If you were using cladistics to build a phylogenetic tree of cats, which of the following would be the best outgroup?

a. wolf c. lion

b. domestic cat d. leopard

Answer: a. Wolf

Explanation:

A phylogenetic tree is a diagrammatic representation in which the premitive living species are compared with the modern organisms on the basis of morphological as well as genetic similarities and differences. Hence, they are separated into distinct groups.

All the given organisms in the options (wolf, domestic cat, lion, and leopard) belong to the vertebrata phyllum. Among the options given all the organisms, except wolf, the other organisms are morphologically close to one other. Thus for constructing a phylogenetic tree for these organisms, wolfs will be an out-group. The other organisms will be the descendent belonging to the same group.