Cladistics

Definition

A phylogenetic system that groups organisms based on shared, derived characteristics (synapomorphies) and uses these to reconstruct evolutionary relationships.

Etymology

From Greek 'klados', meaning 'branch' or 'twig', and the suffix '-istics', relating to the study of.

Example

Cladistics is used to determine the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms, such as insects.

Related Terms

• Phylogenetic tree
• Synapomorphy
• Homoplasy

Usage Notes

Cladistics relies on the principle of parsimony, which states that the simplest explanation is usually the most likely.