The Term Parsimony Implies That

Multiple Choice

The term parsimony implies that

A) the three-domain system is superior to the five-kingdom system of classification.
B) molecular data are more accurate in implying evolutionary relationships than homology.
C) the fewer assumptions that are made, the more probable the conclusion.
D) smaller clades are more accurate than larger clades.
E) shared derived traits shared by fewer organisms are more correct than those shared by more organisms. The principle of parsimony only implies that a conclusion is more likely correct when fewer assumptions are made. Larger, more complex clades may be constructed when fewer assumptions are made, and by the principle of parsimony, these clades are more likely to be correct than those constructed using more assumptions.