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Homology and Phylogenetic Analysis

OVER ARCHING QUESTIONS:

  • What is the origin of all the variation in life forms?
  • How do Biologist organize and make sense of all the variation?
  • What is my (humans) relationship to all this variation?

 

STEP ONE OF THE INQUIRY:

  • Given what you already know, turn these general questions into a hypothesis with testable predictions.

 

STEP TWO OF THE INQUIRY:

  • Make some accurate, precise and repeatable observations.

 

 

Procedures and Directions for Evolution 1 (PRINT and bring to lab #1): Homology_lab_part1.doc

 

Procedures and Directions for Evolution 2 & 3 (PRINT and bring to lab): 7.8.9.Homology_lab_part2.3.4..doc 

 

 

STEP THREE OF THE INQUIRY:

  • Summarize your observations and relate them to your hypothesis and predictions. Revise your hypothesis if the observations are inconsistent with the original hypothesis. 

 

 

BACKGROUND READING AND SOURCES:

UC Berkely Website on Evolution

Character Matrices

Animal Diversity Web

The Tree of Life

 

 

Intro To Homology and Phylogeny

Elvis and Sisters

 

Pedigrees and Trees: Siblings or Species?

 

Sugar Glider and Flying Squirrel

 

Analogy on a Tree: Twice evolved rather than once

 

3 Types of Evidence to Determine Homology

 

 

Introduction to Phylogenetic Trees:

Tree Basics

Equivalent and Non-Equivalent Trees

 

 

Phylogenetic Analysis - Building Your Own Trees:

Constructing Trees from Character Matrices

Using Parsimony to Judge Alternative Topologies

 

 

Using Mesquite to Build, Analyze and Save Phylogenetic Trees:

Directions for Using Mesquite.doc

Plant Phylo Example.nex

 

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