Practice Questions

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 9609

Dozens of potato varieties exist, differing from each other in potato-tuber size, skin color, flesh color, and shape. One might construct a classification of potatoes based on these morphological traits. Which of these criticisms of such a classification scheme is most likely to come from an adherent of the phylocode method of classification?

#Unit 1. Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology

Flesh color, rather than skin color, is a valid trait to use for classification because it is less susceptible to change with the age of the tuber.
Flower color is a better classification criterion, because below-ground tubers can be influenced by minerals in the soil as much as by their genes.
The only biologically valid classification of potato varieties is one that accurately reflects their genetic and evolutionary relatedness.
The most accurate phylogenetic code is that of Linnaeus. Classify potatoes based on Linnaean principles; not according to their color.