ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Patrocladogram

Hello there! Today, we are going to talk about something called a patrocladogram.

When we talk about patrocladogram, we are actually talking about a special kind of chart that helps scientists figure out how different species of living things are related to each other.

So, imagine you have a family tree, right? It shows you how your grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters are all related to each other. In a similar way, a patrocladogram shows how different species of animals or plants are related to each other.

Scientists can use a patrocladogram to figure out which living things had a common ancestor, way back in time. They can also use it to see how different species evolved over time, and how they developed unique features that help them survive in their environment.

To make a patrocladogram, scientists start with the oldest living things in a group and then add on the younger ones that descended from them. They use different symbols and shapes to represent different species, and they draw lines between the ones that are related.

It's kind of like making a family tree, but for animals and plants!