It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Phylogenetics. (Discuss)

In phylogenetics, a group is monophyletic (Greek: "of one race") if it consists of an inferred common ancestor and all its descendants. A taxonomic group that contains organisms but not their common ancestor is called polyphyletic, and a group that contains some but not all descendants of the most recent common ancestor is called paraphyletic. Image File history File links Merge-arrow. ... Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ... Phylogenetic groups, or taxa, can be monophyletic, paraphyletic, or polyphyletic. ... In biology, a taxon is polyphyletic if it is descended from more than one root form (in Greek poly = many and phyletic = racial). ... Paraphyletic - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

The grouping of reptiles and birds is generally believed to be monophyletic.

For example, all organisms in the genus Homo are inferred to have come from the same ancestral form in the family Hominidae, and no other descendants are known. Thus the genus Homo is monophyletic. If, on the other hand, it were discovered that Homo habilis had developed from a different ancestor than Homo sapiens, and either split the genus or broaden it to include the additional forms. Splitting the genus may split explanations of functional evolution to require convergence. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Species Homo sapiens See text for extinct species. ... Genera The hominids are the members of the biological family Hominidae (the great apes), which includes humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Leakey et al, 1964 Homo habilis (IPA ) (handy man, skillful person) is a species of the genus Homo, which lived from approximately 2. ... Homo sapiens (Latin: wise man) is the scientific name for the human species. ...

Some evolutionary taxonomists prefer to use the term holophyletic to describe this sort of group and instead use monophyletic in its older sense, where it refers to both holophyletic and paraphyletic groups. Evolutionary taxonomy or evolutionary systematics seeks to classify organisms using a combination of phylogenetic relationship and overall similarity. ... Paraphyletic - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Sometimes taxonomists are frustrated fitting plant species into a monophyletic group because of polyploidy. There is evidence that some polyploid plant species are of multiple origins (the species has arisen more than once). For example hybrid goat's-beard (Tragopogon miscellus [1]) has formed as many as 20 times via hybrid speciation in eastern Washington. Unity of explanation through functional evolution is challenged by the atomizations required by strict monophyly. Polyploidy refers to cells or organisms that contain more than two copies of each of their chromosomes. ... Species about 45, including: Tragopogon coloratus Tragopogon crocifolius Tragopogon cupani Tragopogon dubius Tragopogon floccosus Tragopogon gracilis Tragopogon mirabilis Tragopogon mirus Tragopogon miscellus Tragopogon porrifolius Tragopogon pratensis Tragopogon X crantzii Tragopogon X neohybridus The Goatsbeards or Salsifies are the genus Tragopogon of flowering plants within the family Asteraceae. ... Hybridization between two different species sometimes leads to a distinct phenotype. ... For the capital city of the United States, see Washington, D.C.. For other uses, see Washington (disambiguation). ...

See also

• Taxonomy
• Linnaean taxonomy
• Cladistics
• Evolutionary taxonomy

Look up taxonomy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Linnaean taxonomy is a method of classifying living things originally devised by, and named for, Carl Linnaeus although it has changed considerably since his time. ... It has been suggested that Clade be merged into this article or section. ... Evolutionary taxonomy or evolutionary systematics seeks to classify organisms using a combination of phylogenetic relationship and overall similarity. ...

References

• Colin Tudge (2000). The Variety of Life. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198604262.