7.9.B—Explain how phylogenetic trees and cladograms can be used to infer evolutionary relatedness

Explain how phylogenetic trees and cladograms can be used to infer evolutionary relatedness.

• Phylogenetic trees and cladograms can be used to illustrate speciation that has occurred. The nodes on a tree represent the most recent common ancestor of any two groups or lineages.
• Phylogenetic trees and cladograms can be constructed from morphological similarities of living or fossil species and from DNA and protein sequence similarities.
• Phylogenetic trees and cladograms represent hypotheses that are constantly being revised based on evidence.