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Phylogeny Lab Worksheet

This document describes an online interactive lab that aims to teach students how phylogenetic trees are used to identify relationships between species based on shared derived traits. The lab consists of 6 missions where students build phylogenetic trees by placing organisms in branches based on shared traits and analyze DNA sequences to determine evolutionary relationships. Key lessons include: 1) traits shared between more species indicate an older, ancestral trait while less shared traits are newer or derived; 2) species with more shared traits are more closely related; and 3) DNA analysis can provide a better tool than physical traits alone to infer evolutionary relationships.

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Butterfly Juniper
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151 views

Phylogeny Lab Worksheet

This document describes an online interactive lab that aims to teach students how phylogenetic trees are used to identify relationships between species based on shared derived traits. The lab consists of 6 missions where students build phylogenetic trees by placing organisms in branches based on shared traits and analyze DNA sequences to determine evolutionary relationships. Key lessons include: 1) traits shared between more species indicate an older, ancestral trait while less shared traits are newer or derived; 2) species with more shared traits are more closely related; and 3) DNA analysis can provide a better tool than physical traits alone to infer evolutionary relationships.

Uploaded by

Butterfly Juniper
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Phylogeny Lab (20 pts)

Name:

HOW DO WE CATEGORIZE RELATED ORGANISMS?

Introduction
The abundance and diversity of species has impressed and inspired scientists, artists, poets and all major
religions. As part of that diversity ourselves, we wonder about its cause and extent. But what is a
species? Are similarly looking species related? What is the relationship between similar and dissimilar
species; is there a relationship at all? These are some of the most basic questions in biology; some of
which are still being argued about. A trait that at least two lineages have in common and is different from
the ancestral trait i.e. four limbs, is a trait shared among frogs, lizards, birds and mammals, and different
from the ancestral state of fins (in fishes). In a phylogenetic tree, species of interest are shown at the tips
of the tree branches, and branches are connected to reflect evolutionary history and how they evolved
from a common ancestor.
This lab aims to walk you through how we identify species relationships through shared derived traits and
represent that in the form of a tree structure. This is an online interactive lab hosted by pbs here:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/lab/evolution/research#/chooser
First, watch the video the briefly discusses the principles of evolution. You’ll need to complete all 6
missions and answer the questions below as you go.

Mission 1: Red, Green and Gecko:


You’ll be prompted to build a basic tree of two individuals and place the trait on the left-hand side of the
screen in a place so that all descendants share that trait.
Helpful hints throughout:
Recognize the number of circles above the organism denotes how many traits are found in the organism
(usually 1-4). If an organism doesn’t have a specific trait, the trait will not fit inside any circle. When you
use the magnifying glass, traits specific to that organism will be in blue. Whenever you’ve performed the
task correctly, you’ll be prompted into the next task.
Traits that are more common among organisms are likely more ancestral (older).
Traits that are less common are likely more derived (newer).
Species with the most shared traits are often more closely related.
Species with the fewest shared traits are likely more ancestral.

Mission 1: Red Green and Gecko


1) Is an animal or a plant more closely related to a fungus?
Animal
2) According to this tree, which trait do animals and mushrooms share?
Heterotrophic

Mission 1: Familiar Faces


3) Which species share the trait of having an amnion? Which share the trait of being vertebrates?
The dog and king snake were both amnions. Everything but the stick was a vertebrate.

Mission 1: Tree of Life Vegetation edition


Don’t forget you can use the magnifying glass for help.
4) Is a banana more closely related to a lemon or an onion?
Onion

Mission 2: Eating Dinosaurs for Dinner


5) Which share a wishbone in their skeletal structure?
Dinosaurs and modern-day birds

Mission 2: One Small Step


6) According to the tree, which trait evolved after eyes on top of a flat head?
Digits

Mission 2: Origin of Whales (this one gets a little tougher):


7) Which currently living species is most closely related to whales?
Hippo

8) Name all species that do not have tail flukes.


Hippo, Pakicetus, Ambulocetus

Mission 3: Frog Legs and Fish Eggs


In the DNA spells evolution module, we replace physical characteristics with the sharing of DNA
characteristics. In many ways this module reflects how species relationships are identified using genetics
today.
9) The DNA sequence of the West Indian Ocean coelacanth is closest to which species?
Western Clawed Frog
Mission 3: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Lungfish
10) which species is most closely related to the lungfish?
Lungfish

Mission 3: Where the Tiny, Wild Things Are


11) Why is DNA a better method tool to infer relationships than physical traits alone?
All of the above!

Mission 4: Saving Hawaiian Treasures:


12) Using the magnifying glass, look at the way honeycreepers evolved. If a new species of honeycreeper
were discovered, and it had a short, straight beak, which bird in this puzzle would likely be its closest
living relative?
Po’ouli

Mission 4: Cone rangers (really tricky):


13) Which tree is most closely related to the Coral Reef Pine?
Norfolk Is. Pine

Mission 4: Kangas, Gliders, and Snakes, Oh My!


14) Given the tree as well as context clues in the question, give a definition of convergent evolution in
your own words.
Convergent Evolution is when two species develop similar features to cope with their environment
even if they share no recent genetic similarity.

Mission 5: Hosting Blood Flukes for Dinner


15) Given tree and context clues in the question, give a definition of cophyly in your own words.
Cophyly is when parasites evolve to process with the evolutions of their host.

Mission 5: Fatal Fangs


16) Which species is the unknown snake most likely to be?
The snake is expected to be of the same genus or species as the tiger snake.
Mission 5: Dawn of a Modern Pandemic
17) Which ape virus is most closely related to the HIV virus that has killed about 39 million people due to
AIDS?
SIV-MB897

Mission 6: Planet of the Apes


18) Based on the tree in “Planet of the Apes,” which species is humans closest living relative
Chimpanzee’s

Mission 6: Back to Skull


19) Which species is more closely related to Homo sapiens based on skull characteristics?
Neanderthals are our closest relative; their skulls are very similar to ours with minor differences.

Mission 6: Inside Out of Africa


20) Based on the tree from “Inside Out of Africa,” DNA from the peoples of which region is more closely
related to the people of Papua New Guinea?

People from the Italian region are closely related to those of New Guinea

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