Character and character states found in phylogenetic tree

Answer 1

In a phylogenetic tree, the character represents a feature or trait that is used to group organisms into different clades. The character state refers to the specific form or variation of the character that is present in each organism.

For example, in a phylogenetic tree of vertebrates, the character may be the presence or absence of jaws. The character state can be either "jawed" or "jawless." Organisms that have jaws, such as sharks and mammals, would be grouped into the "jawed" clade, while organisms without jaws, such as lampreys and hagfish, would be grouped into the "jawless" clade.

Other examples of characters and character states found in phylogenetic trees include:

- Presence or absence of feathers in birds
- Number and arrangement of petals in flowers
- Type of reproductive structures in fungi
- Type of dentition in mammals
- Type of appendages in arthropods
- Type of leaf venation in plants.