Ques. 1AIPMT 2003
Phenetic classification of organisms is based on
- observable characteristics of existing organisms
- the ancestral lineage of existing organisms
- dendrogram based on DNA characteristics
- sexual characteristics.
Answer
(1) observable characteristics of existing organisms
Solution
Phenetic (numerical) classification groups organisms by overall similarity of their observable characters.
As per NCERT, numerical taxonomy is based on all observable characteristics; each character is given a number and code, and the data are processed by computers with equal weightage to all characters.
∵ Ancestral lineage is the basis of phylogenetic (cladistic) classification, not phenetic.
∴ Phenetic classification is based on observable characteristics of existing organisms.
Answer: (1)