Names: Ryan Young & Samantha Tam

Class: AP Biology
Period: 3
BLAST Lab

BLAST Lab Part 1 Comparing Physical Features:

Data Chart:
(Figure 1) Species Morphologies Chart

Claim 1: All of these organisms share the same common ancestor with eyes based on the
observations of distinguishing physical features. Our criteria was based on physical
characteristics and what similar traits that the animals had.

Evidence + reasoning:
In the data chart and using the pictures, we were able to identify and compare the
features between the organisms. Although there were mammals, a reptile, a fish, and a
bird, they all share a common ancestor that give them two eyes on their heads since their
morphologies reflect this 2-eyed characteristic. It was like this because in natural selection,
traits that give animals an advantage will help the animal survive and pass on its genes.
The two-eyes gave these animals common ancestor an advantage in survival, and so thats
why they have eyes to help them survive as well.
Our evidence supports our claim because the pictures of the animals clearly showed
the animals as having two eyes on their faces, no matter what shape or size those eyes
were. The eyes clearly were an important feature that was critical for an animals survival to
live long enough to have offspring. The common ancestor must have had a significant
advantage over other animals with its ability to see with two eyes.

Morphological Phylogenetic tree:

BLAST Lab Part 2 Comparing HBB Protein Sequence:

Data Chart:
(Figure 3) Hemoglobin Beta Protein Relationship Chart

Phylogenetic Tree:
(Figure 4) HBB Relationship Phylogenetic Tree

Claim 2:
When the HBB protein sequence was compared, it calculated that Homo Sapiens and Pan
Troglodytes are the most closely related while the Bos Taurus and the Trematomus
Bernacchii are the most distantly related.

Evidence + reasoning:
In the data chart, it shows that Homo Sapiens (humans) and Pan Troglodytes
(Chimpanzee) have a similarity of 100% between the HBB protein sequence. Humans and
chimpanzees most likely came from the same common ancestor that split recently. The
data chart also shows that the lowest similarity between the six animals were between the
Bos Taurus (bull) and the Trematomus Bernacchii (Emerald Rockcod) with a 44.218%. Bulls
are four legged animals that run on the land while rock cods are fish that only swim in
water, therefore, they would have more differences than similarities in their genes.
The evidence clearly supports our claim because the human and chimpanzee; and
sheep and bull, are both sister taxons on the phylogenetic tree, along with the fact that
they have the largest percentage in similarities in the HBB protein sequence. This evidence
makes sense, as the rockcod, turtle, and goose is shown to branch off earlier than the rest
of the animals, which are mammals. All the mammals have one common ancestor, while
the rest of the non-mammals branched off into their own taxons before. The chart showing
that the rockcod had the least similarities (lowest percentages) in protein sequences to the
rest of the animals made sense since it is the first taxon to branch off from the rest of the
animals on the phylogenetic tree.

BLAST Lab Part 3 Comparing CCNT1 Protein Sequence:

Hypothesis:
 The human and marmoset are the most closely related while the human and platypus are
the most distantly related because marmoset is a monkey and monkeys are close to
humans while platypus is a furry animal that lays eggs.


Data Chart:
(Figure 5) CCNT1 Protein Relationship Chart

Species Human Panda Platypus Pufferfish Marmoset Tasmanian Chameleon
Name Devil

Human 93.948% 61.86% 50.329% 95.604% 79.012% 66.845%

Panda 63.71% 50.131% 92.455% 79.863% 68.091%

Platypus 49.468% 62.097% 67.432% 60.979%

Pufferfish 50.59% 50% 52.075%

Marmoset 79.452% 66.756%

Tasmanian 68.407%
Devil

Chameleon


Phylogenetic Tree:
(Figure 6) CCNT1 Relationship Phylogenetic Tree

Claim:
When the CCNT1 protein sequence was compared, it showed that the human and
marmoset were the most closely related with the panda and human coming the next
similar. The most distantly related between the seven organisms were the platypus and the
pufferfish.

Evidence + Reasoning:
In the data chart, it shows that the human and marmoset have a similarity of
95.604%, and the panda and human have a similarity of 93.948%. The platypus and the
pufferfish has the lowest similarity of 49.468%. We are able to derive the relationships
between the organisms we chose since the percentage of this protein told us how related
the organisms were to each other, with a higher percentage meaning a higher similarity
between organisms. All of these organisms contained the protein Cyclin T1, but the protein
sequence which they shared at that gene was all different, showing the similarities when
compared to one another as shown in the data chart.
The evidence does make sense, as the mammals came from one common ancestor
as seen in the phylogenetic tree, while the non-mammals such as the pufferfish and
chameleon branched off early into their own taxon. Our evidence supports our claim
because according to the chart, there is a clear percentage that is given in the similarities in
each protein sequence. It makes sense that the human and marmoset would be the most
closely related, as both humans and marmosets have a common ancestor shown in the
phylogenetic tree. The pufferfish clearly had the least similarities between the rest of the
animals, and this makes sense as it is the first one to branch off in the phylogenetic tree
into its own taxon.
The biological importance of Cyclin T1 (CCNT1) is very important in animals, as this
protein regulates cell division. Since all the animals above that were used have this protein,
it can be inferred that this protein is also important in many other animals as well.

Hypothesis Result:
The hypothesis was partly correct, but also partly incorrect. That data did show that the
human and marmoset had the greatest similarity between the seven organisms; therefore,
the human and marmoset were the most closely related. However, the data did not show
that the human and platypus had the least similarity in the CCNT1 protein sequence.
Instead, the lowest similarity percentage was between the pufferfish and the platypus, with
a similarity of 49.468%.