Question

Evolutionary history of an organism is known as
A. Ontogeny
B. Phylogeny
C. Ancestry
D. Paleontology

Answer 1

Hint: We know that all known present-day species have diverged through the process of evolution from a common ancestor.

Complete answer:
The evolutionary history of an organism or a group of organisms such as a tribe or a racial group is known as Phylogeny.

Additional Information:
1. Phylogeny is the study of relationships among different groups of organisms and their evolutionary development.
2. The term ‘phylogenetics' was given by Haeckel in 1866.
3. The relationships among organisms are depicted diagrammatically in a phylogenetic tree.
4. Relationships are determined by the comparison of genetic and anatomical similarities.
5. The components of a phylogenetic tree are:
Nodes: These are points on a phylogenetic tree where branching occurs. It represents the end of the ancestral taxon and the point where a new species splits from its predecessor.
Branches: Branches arising from nodes represent descendant species that split from a common ancestor.
Taxon: Taxa are specific groupings or categories of living organisms. The tips of branches in a phylogenetic tree end in a taxon.
6. The information is used to organize and classify organisms based on evolutionary relationships in a scientific field called ‘systematics’.

So, the correct answer is ‘Phylogeny’.

Note: Taxonomy also classifies organisms into a hierarchy of groups but it does not establish an evolutionary relationship between them.