Evolutionary Cladogram Analysis
Which organisms have roundworms as a common ancestor?
mollusks and flatworms
sponges and chordates
flatworms, sponges, and cnidarians
mollusks, echinoderms, chordates, and annelids
Answer:
For those of us who like simple answers, the answer is D) mollusks, echinoderms, chordates, and annelids.
A cladogram is a diagram that shows the evolution of organisms and the specific traits that manifested in the course of evolution. In this specific cladogram, the organisms that have roundworms as a common ancestor are likely to be mollusks, echinoderms, chordates, and annelids.
This means that these four groups of organisms share a common ancestor with roundworms somewhere along their evolutionary history. Understanding evolutionary relationships through cladograms can provide valuable insights into the history and diversification of different species over time.