Definition

A method of classifying living things based on their evolutionary relationships and history.

Example

Cladistics helps scientists understand how different species are related to each other.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of cladistics?

Yeah, I think it's a method for classifying organisms, right?

Exactly! It's based on their evolutionary history.

That sounds really interesting; I’d love to learn more about it.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cladistics is formed from "clad" (from Greek "klados", meaning branch) and "-istics" (from Greek "istike", meaning relating to or pertaining to). The term refers to a method of classification based on the branching relationships between species.

Memory Tip

Think of 'branches' ('clad') that show how different species are related, and '-istics' means relating to. This helps you remember that cladistics is about the relationships between species.

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