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GCSE Biology · key term
An organism from which two or more later groups evolved.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.6.3.5, 4.6.4 · Paper 2
Revise: FossilsA branching point represents a common ancestor from which lineages separated; the split represents speciation. Organisms whose branches meet at a more recent branching point are more closely related than organisms whose branches meet further back in time.
An ancestral organism from which two or more groups of organisms evolved.
On an evolutionary tree, judge relatedness from the most recent common ancestor, not from how close together the branch tips appear on the page.
Do not describe one living species at the end of a branch as the ancestor of another living species. Trace their branches backwards to find the common ancestor.
To explain the evidence for evolution, link the shared bone pattern to inheritance from a common ancestor, then explain how the limbs became adapted for different functions.
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Specification 4.6B, 4.7 · Paper 1
An earlier organism from which two or more later groups of organisms descended.
Revise: Pentadactyl LimbThe same pattern persisting beneath different adaptations is therefore evidence that these groups evolved from a common ancestor, rather than each limb having an entirely separate origin.
An organism from which two or more groups have evolved.
Specification B5.2b · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
An ancestral species from which two or more later groups evolved.
Revise: Classification systemsOrganisms in the same natural group should share characteristics because they inherited them from a common ancestor, rather than simply sharing one superficial feature.
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
An earlier organism or population from which two or more groups descended.
Revise: Classification and DNASimilarities in genomes can also suggest that different groups descended from a common ancestor. In general, groups with more genetic similarities are likely to share a more recent common ancestor than groups with fewer. Genome analysis can therefore help scientists suggest how recently their lineages separated through speciation, the formation of new species.