Table 1 Overview of the reported misconceptions linked to teleological thinking and potential ways of confronting them
From: Teleological pitfalls in reading evolutionary trees and ways to avoid them
| Misconception or educational pitfall | Possible measures/practices |
|---|---|
| Pop-cultural portrayal | Tree design Address teleology |
| Reading across the tips | Tree design Visualize rotations Adding additional information Convert topologies |
| Order of teaching evolution | Start with families Start with circle in circle diagrams |
| Teleological wording | Consider the wording Illustrate and address teleology |
| Effects of different representational styles | Tree design Visualize rotations Convert topologies Adding additional information |
| Diagonal trees | Tree design Adding additional information Convert topologies |
| Anagenetic diagrams | Tree design |
| Orientation of trees | Tree design Visualize rotations Convert topologies |
| Lines represent no change | Adding additional information |
| Unbalanced trees | Visualize rotations Adding additional information |
| Age of groups | Address teleology Visualize rotations |
| Interpreting focal taxa | Positioning of focal taxon Address teleology Consider the wording |
| Different levels | Tree design |