Practice question

Phenetic classification groups organisms based on overall observable phenotypic similarity calculated from numerous characters without weighting evolutionary significance or distinguishing ancestral versus derived states, alternative name numerical taxonomy or taximetrics because similarity indices and clustering algorithms quantitatively aggregate data into phenograms. Natural encompasses maximal characters qualitatively but with intuitive weighting, artificial few conspicuous, practical economic utility. Numerical taxonomy developed by Sokal and Sneath using operational taxonomic units OTUs scoring character states and UPGMA clustering. Phenetics produces phenogram reflecting resemblance not necessarily phylogeny, controversial for ignoring cladistic polarity, yet useful for bacterial fungal alpha taxonomy where phylogeny unclear.