Human hair is an example of a ___ .

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question: 'Human hair is an example of a ___.'

Option a: plesiamorphy. A plesiamorphy (usually spelled plesiamorphy or plesiomorphy) refers to an ancestral or primitive trait present in an ancestor and not unique to a particular group. Hair in humans is not an ancestral trait shared by all distant relatives; it is a mammalian feature, so this option is incorrect.

Option b: synapomorphy. A synapomorphy is a shared derived character that defines a clade; it is a trait that evolved in the common ancestor of a group and is present in all its descendants. Hair is a characteristic of mammals and helps unite mammals as a clade, making it a derived and shared feature within that group. This explanation aligns with the concept of a synapomorphy.

Option c: clade. A clade is a group of organisms consisting of an ancestor and all its descendants, defined by synapomorphies. Hair itself is a trait, not a grouping, so this option confuses a trait with the defined lineage.

Option d: derived trait. A derived trait refers to any trait that evolved from an ancestral state. While hair is indeed derived relative to non-mammalian ancestors, the question specifically points to a character that defines a clade, which is captured more precisely by synapomorphy. Thus this option is less precise.

Option e: phylogeny. Phylogeny is the evolutionary history and relationships among species or groups, not a trait. Therefore this option is incorrect.

Option f: taxonomy. Taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying organisms, not a trait. This option does not describe a character state.

In summary, option b is correct because hair is a derived, shared feature that characterizes the mammal clade, satisfying the definition of a synapomorphy. The other options fail either by mislabeling the type of trait, confusing trait with group concepts, or referring to concepts (phylogeny, taxonomy) that are not trait states.

Human hair is an example of a ___ .单项选择题

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