Holophyletic is a term posited as a semantically correct replacement for the term monophyletic as used by cladists (which differs from the usage of evolutionary systematists).[1] It originated amidst confusion over the correct definition for 'monophyletic group'; many definitions were available, of varying degrees of restrictiveness, and 'holophyletic' was posited as a term to describe the definition with scientific utility.[1] The least scientifically useful definition, which is arguably the semantically correct one, considers any organisms with a common ancestor to be a monophyletic group.[2] Since it is presumed that one could find a common ancestor from any group of organisms if one goes far enough into the past, this definition implicitly or explicitly constrains what is a legitimate common ancestor, for example by requiring the common ancestor to share a derived trait (synapomorphy) which defines the group.[1]
The term holophyletic has not gained widespread acceptance in the scientific community,[3] probably because the term 'monophyletic' is so widely used with the same widely understood meaning.
References[]
- ^ a b c Ashlock, P.D. (1971). "Monophyly and associated terms". Systematic Zoology 20 (1): 63-69. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2412223.
- ^ Envall, Mats (2008). "On the difference between mono-, holo-, and paraphyletic groups: a consistent distinction of process and pattern". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 94: 217. doi:.
- ^ Google Scholar. "Holophyletic". http://scholar.google.ca/scholar?q=holophyletic.
| Phylogenetics |
|---|
Basic concepts — Synapomorphy • Phylogenetic tree • Phylogenetic network • Long branch attraction • Clade Inference methods — Maximum parsimony • Maximum likelihood • Neighbor-joining • UPGMA • Bayesian inference • Least squares Current topics — PhyloCode • DNA barcoding -morphy — Symplesiomorphy • Apomorphy • Plesiomorphy • Synapomorphy -phyly — Monophyly/Holophyly • Paraphyly • Polyphyly |