Monophyletic Groups

A monophyletic group, also known as a clade, is a set of organisms that includes an ancestor and all of its descendants. In other words, it’s a branch on the tree of life that contains every species originating from a common ancestor, with no members left out. This grouping reflects true evolutionary relationships, helping scientists understand how species are related and share characteristics inherited from that common ancestor. Monophyletic groups are important because they represent natural, evolution-based classifications, providing a clear picture of evolutionary history and lineage connections.