Cladograms and Evolution Kit

Students propose evolutionary relationships using 2 lines of evidence. First, students examine the external anatomical characteristics of 5 different preserved specimens. Based on morphological similarities, they create a cladogram. Students are then provided data about differences in the sequence of amino acids in a protein that the animals share. The students construct an additional cladogram based on this molecular information. Considering both morphological characteristics and genetic information, students propose evolutionary relationships among the animals and try to explain any discrepancies...