Universal Ancestor
* DNA as Genetic Storage
* Ester Bonds in Cell Membranes

Bacteria
* Presence of Peptidoglycan in Cell Wall

Common Ancestor
of Archaea and Eukarya
* Histones Present

Archaea
* Ether Bonds in Cell Membranes

Eukarya
* Presence of Membrane-Bound Nucleus
* Presence of Membrane-Bound Organelles

Archaeplastida
* Primary plastid

Rhodophytes

Rhodophytes

Common Ancestor
of Chlorophytes, Charophytes and
Land Plants

Chlorophytes

Chlorophytes

Common Ancestor of Charophytes and Land Plants

Charophytes

Braun's Stonewort
(Chara Braunii)

Braun's Stonewort
(Chara Braunii)

Land Plants
*Sporic life cycle
*Embryos
*Apical meristems
*Gametangia
*Sporangia
*Desiccation-Resistant spores

Liverworts

Common liverwort
(Marchantia Polymorpha)

Common liverwort
(Marchantia Polymorpha)

Subtopic

Mosses

Field Hornwort 
(Anthoceros agrestis)

Field Hornwort
(Anthoceros agrestis)

Subtopic

Hornworts

Field Hornworrt 
(Anthoceros agresstis)

Field Hornworrt
(Anthoceros agresstis)

Common Ancestor of
Seedless Vascular Plants
*Lignin
*Xylem and phloem
*Leaves
*Dominant sporophyte generation
*Thick waxy cuticle
*Stomata

Lycophytes

Fan clubmoss
(Diphasiastrum digtatum)

Fan clubmoss
(Diphasiastrum digtatum)

Common Ancestor of Monilophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms
*Megaphylls

Monilophytes

Eastern Marsh Fern
(Thelypteris plaustris)

Eastern Marsh Fern
(Thelypteris plaustris)

Subtopic

Southern Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora)

Seed Plants common ancestor:
*Seeds
*Pollen
*Ovules
*Wood
*Heterospory

Gymnosperms
*Fruit
*Flowers

Bald Cypress
(Taxodium distichum)

Bald Cypress
(Taxodium distichum)

Scots Pine
(Pinus sylvestris)

Scots Pine
(Pinus sylvestris)

Angiosperms
*Ovaries
*Fruits
*Flowers
*Endosperm

Southern Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora)

Southern Magnolia
(Magnolia grandiflora)

White Water Lili
(Nymphaea alba)

White Water Lili
(Nymphaea alba)

Excavata
* Feeding groove
* Secondary plastid

Euglenoids

Euglenoids

SAR clade

Common Ancestor
of Stramenopila and Alveolata
* Secondary plastids

Stramenopila
*Tripartite flagellar hair

Giant Kelp
(Macrocystis pyrifera)

Giant Kelp
(
Macrocystis pyrifera)

Diatoms

Diatoms

Alveolata
* Membranous vesicles on cell membrane

Dinoflagellate

Dinoflagellate

Rhizaria
* Filose pseudopodia

Radiolarians

Radiolarians

Foraminiferas

Foraminiferas

Unikonta

Amebozoa
* Movement with pseudopodia

Slime molds

Slime molds

Opisthokonta
* Single posterior flagellum on swimming cells

American Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)

American Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)

Black Bread Mold
(Rhizopus stolonifer)

Black Bread Mold
(
Rhizopus stolonifer)

Fly Agaric
(Amanita muscaria)

Fly Agaric
(
Amanita muscaria)