Biology · PLANT KINGDOM

In Numerical Taxonomy, equal importance is given to hundreds of observable characters simultaneously. How is this objective statistical analysis achieved?

1. By prioritizing floral morphology over vegetative traits before computer analysis.
2. By assigning numbers and codes to all observable characters and processing the data using computers.
3. By counting chromosome number and analyzing chemical constituents using chromatographic algorithms.
4. By analyzing fossil evidence to weight ancestral characteristics higher than derived traits.