A: Morphological Phylogeny. B: Molecular Phylogeny

Multiple Choice

A: Morphological phylogeny. B: Molecular phylogeny.
In the traditional morphological phylogeny (A) , the phylum Platyhelminthes is depicted as a sister taxon to the rest of the protostome phyla and as having diverged earlier from the lineage that led to the rest of the protostomes. In the molecular phylogeny (B) , Platyhelminthes is depicted as a lophotrochozoan phylum. What probably led to this change?

A) Platyhelminthes ceased to be recognized as true protostomes.
B) Similarity of genetic information has led to realization that some morphological features are evolutionarily flexible (e.g., coelom formation) and so cannot be used as a diagnostic character.
C) All Platyhelminthes must have a well-developed lophophore as their feeding apparatus.
D) Platyhelminthes' close genetic ties to the arthropods became clear as their Hox gene sequences were studied.