Historically, scientists organized organisms into a taxonomic classification system. Each group of organisms went through its own evolutionary journey, or its phylogeny.

However, today many scientists build phylogenetic trees to illustrate evolutionary relationships To build phylogenetic trees, scientists must collect accurate information that allows them to make evolutionary connections between organisms.

phylogenetic tree — diagram that reflects the evolutionary relationships among organisms or groups of organisms. phylogeny — evolutionary history and relationship of an organism or group of organisms. taxon — (plural: taxa) single level in the taxonomic classification system. class — division of phylum in the taxonomic classification system.