Question

What is the problem with organizing organisms taxonomically purely based on their physical traits

Answer 1

Answer:

See the answer below

Explanation:

The problem with grouping organisms together taxonomically based on their physical traits is that organisms that not genetically or evolutionally similar would be grouped together. Grouping would be based entirely on superficial similarities instead of combining different features such as genetics, nutrition, the complexity of bodies, etc.

Based on physical traits, for example, all flying organisms will be grouped together. Birds, flying insects, bats, etc. would be grouped together, whereas, they are quite different from one another when it comes to the complexity of bodies and other features. Even though some insects have wings and can fly like birds, insects have exoskeletons and birds do not, the body of birds is more complex than that of insects, and evolutionally, birds are more advanced than insects.

Hence, grouping organisms based on their physical traits only would be too superficial and not reflect the true relationships between organisms.