A natural taxonomic system currently in use attempts to show:
evolutionary descent
family trees
groupings of physical characteristics
genetic relationships
ancestry of organisms
All of the above
A natural taxonomic system currently in use attempts to show the following:
1. Evolutionary descent: A natural taxonomic system aims to depict the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. It arranges organisms based on their shared ancestry and common evolutionary history.
2. Family trees: The system constructs family trees or phylogenetic trees to represent the relationships between different groups of organisms. These trees visually depict the branching patterns of evolutionary divergence and the common ancestors of different taxa.
3. Groupings of physical characteristics: A natural taxonomic system considers the physical characteristics or traits of organisms when grouping them. Organisms with similar physical features are often placed together within the same taxonomic group, indicating their relatedness.
4. Genetic relationships: Modern taxonomic systems increasingly incorporate information about genetic relationships between organisms. DNA sequencing and molecular techniques are used to study the similarities and differences in DNA sequences or genetic markers, aiding in understanding the genetic relationships between taxa.
5. Ancestry of organisms: A natural taxonomic system seeks to represent the ancestral relationships between groups of organisms. It attempts to identify the common ancestors from which different taxa have evolved and shows how organisms have diversified over time.
Overall, a natural taxonomic system aims to reveal the evolutionary history and genetic relationships between organisms by considering their shared ancestry, grouping them based on physical characteristics, and constructing family trees to depict their evolutionary descent.
The natural taxonomic system currently in use is called the Phylogenetic systematics or cladistics. This system attempts to show the following:
1. Evolutionary Descent: The main goal of the natural taxonomic system is to reflect the evolutionary relationships between different organisms. It aims to arrange organisms based on their shared ancestry and common descent from a common ancestor.
2. Family Trees: The natural taxonomic system represents the relationships between organisms as branching family trees. Each branching point or node in the tree represents a common ancestor, and the branches represent the descendants of that ancestor.
3. Groupings of Physical Characteristics: The natural taxonomic system takes into account the groupings of physical characteristics or traits shared by organisms. These traits can include morphological features, such as body shape, size, or coloration, as well as anatomical structures and physiological processes.
4. Genetic Relationships: With the advancement in genetics, the natural taxonomic system also considers genetic relationships between organisms. It incorporates molecular data, such as DNA sequences, to determine the level of relatedness between different species or groups of organisms.
5. Ancestry of Organisms: The natural taxonomic system aims to reconstruct the ancestral lineage of organisms. By analyzing the shared characteristics and genetic similarities between species, it helps in determining the most recent common ancestor and the evolutionary history leading to the present-day organisms.
To apply this system, scientists use various techniques, such as morphological analysis, genetic sequencing, and phylogenetic tree construction. They compare and analyze the traits and genetic data to determine the evolutionary relationships between organisms and create a natural taxonomic classification system.