Which among the following is incorrect about numerical taxonomy?a)Nume...
Incorrect statement about numerical taxonomy:
The incorrect statement about numerical taxonomy is option D, which states that numerical taxonomy gives the same result irrespective of the different sets of characteristics considered.
Explanation:
Numerical taxonomy, also known as numerical classification or phenetics, is a method used in biological classification to group organisms based on their similarity. It involves the use of mathematical calculations to analyze observable characteristics of organisms and assign numerical values to each character.
Mathematical calculations based on observable characteristics:
Numerical taxonomy relies on the measurement and analysis of various observable characteristics or traits of organisms. These characteristics can include morphological, physiological, biochemical, or behavioral traits. The data obtained from these characteristics are then subjected to mathematical calculations to determine the similarities and differences between organisms.
Numbers assigned to each character:
In numerical taxonomy, each character or trait is given a numerical value based on its presence or absence, or its degree of expression. These numerical values are used to create a data matrix, where rows represent different organisms and columns represent different characters. The data matrix is then used to calculate similarities between organisms using various algorithms or similarity coefficients.
Similar characters indicating similar taxad:
The more the number of similar characters shared between two organisms, the higher the chance that they belong to similar taxonomic groups. Numerical taxonomy aims to group organisms together based on their overall similarity, regardless of their evolutionary relationships. Therefore, organisms with a higher number of similar characters are considered to be more closely related and are grouped together.
Result variation with different sets of characteristics:
The incorrect statement mentioned in option D suggests that numerical taxonomy gives the same result irrespective of the different sets of characteristics considered. However, this statement is incorrect. The choice of characteristics included in the analysis can greatly influence the results obtained in numerical taxonomy. Different sets of characteristics may lead to different clustering patterns or groupings of organisms. Therefore, the results of numerical taxonomy can vary depending on the selection of characteristics and the algorithms used for analysis.
In conclusion, numerical taxonomy is a method of classification that involves mathematical calculations based on observable characteristics. It assigns numerical values to each character and groups organisms based on their similarity. However, the results obtained in numerical taxonomy can vary depending on the different sets of characteristics considered for analysis.
Which among the following is incorrect about numerical taxonomy?a)Nume...
Numerical classification is based on mathematical calculations based on observable characteristics. In this mode of classification, each character is given a number or a code. The more the number of similar characters, the more is the chance that they belong to similar taxon. The main disadvantage of numerical taxonomy comes with the variation in result with variation in set of characteristics.
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