[Campbell Biology P.611] According to the principle of maximum parsimony in phylogenetics, w... | Practice Question

According to the principle of maximum parsimony in phylogenetics, which approach should systematists primarily investigate when constructing an evolutionary tree?

  • A: The tree that incorporates the most complex evolutionary events.
  • B: The tree that is consistent with the facts and requires the fewest evolutionary events.
  • C: The tree that has the most branch points, indicating greater divergence.
  • D: The tree that aligns perfectly with all available fossil records, regardless of complexity.
  • E: The tree derived solely from morphological data, without considering genetic sequences.

Explanation

The text defines maximum parsimony: 'According to the principle of maximum parsimony, we should first investigate the simplest explanation that is consistent with the facts... the most parsimonious tree requires the fewest evolutionary events'. This aligns directly with option B.