What classification system is utilized to construct evolutionary trees based on shared derived characteristics?

The classification system used to construct evolutionary trees based on shared derived characteristics is cladistics. Cladistics focuses on grouping organisms based on their evolutionary history and the characteristics that arise as lineages diverge from common ancestors. The method emphasizes the importance of shared derived traits, known as synapomorphies, which help to identify relationships among species and construct a branching diagram, or cladogram, that illustrates these relationships.

In cladistics, organisms are classified into clades that include an ancestor and all its descendants. This approach contrasts with other classification systems that may not strictly prioritize evolutionary relationships or derived characteristics. The clarity and visual representation of evolutionary relationships in cladistics make it a vital tool in modern biology for understanding the tree of life.