Which of the following are true about outgroups? a. They help identify plesiomorphic traits in the phylogeny b. They are a taxa that is known to not be within the species group in question c. They do not have any autapomorphic traits d. They are less evolved than the species of interest

The the above statements are true about out groups.

Explanation:

a. Out groups called as the more related organism that determine the evolution of the in group traits.

Plesiomorphy means the ancestral character that determines the phylogenetic evolution of an individual.For example, presence of spinal column is a plesiomorphic character of mammals that are present in fish, amphibia,reptiles, birds etc.

b. In groups are diverge from the out group but the out groups are used as a point to compare with the in groups as it is essential to determine the evolution of a trait in a phylogeny.

c. Autapomorphic traits contain distinctive characters that is unique and found in a particular taxa but not found in a any other out group taxa.

d.Out groups are less evolved as they contain ancestral features and during evolution they are replaced by advance characters that are presently in in group traits.Out group study is required to study the evolutionary relationship of the in group trait.

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