Glossary

sister group

In cladistics, a monophyletic group more closely related to the group in question than any other, i.e., the closest outgroup. Sister groups normally share an immediate common ancestor.

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Related terms

cladistics
Taxonomical method used to classify species of organisms into clades, each of which contains an ancestor organism and all its descendants, based on synapomorphies (shared derived characters). Cladistic classifications are usually presented in the form of a cladogram.
monophyletic
Used in reference to a taxonomic group containing all descendants of a single, often hypothetical, common ancestor, often characterised by one or more synapomorphies. A clade is a monophyletic group.
outgroup
In phylogenetics, a group of organisms serving as a reference and comparison to the groups being studied. Opposite of ingroup.
sibling
One of two or more individuals having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister.

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