CLADOGRAM

Class: Zoology for olimpiad class grade X and XI

Unit: Phylogeny

Lesson Topic: Cladistics: Phylogenetic Systematics

How to Make a Cladogram

(Adapted from ENSI/SENSI lesson plan: Making Cladograms http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/home.html)

Cladograms are diagrams which depict the relationships between different groups of taxa called “clades”. By depicting these relationships, cladograms reconstruct the evolutionary history (phylogeny) of the taxa. Cladograms can also be called “phylogenies” or “trees”. Cladograms are constructed by grouping organisms together based on their shared derived characteristics.

Example:

Objectives

1. The student will learn the difference between traditional classification and cladistic classification, and why cladistic classification is preferred by modern biologists.

2. The student will learn about monophyletic, paraphyletic and polyphyletic taxa, and why proper clades can only be monophyletic.

3. The studnt will learn how a cladogram illustrates an evolutionary hypothesis and makes predictions about evolutionary events. (i.e. the scientific method)

4. The student will learn how cladograms depict relationships between taxa, and represent a “family tree” of life.

5. The student will learn how to construct a cladogram from morphological data

Instructional techniques

Lecture, Cladogram construction activity

Instructional material

Powerpoint projector/computer

Content

Instructor will use a powerpoint presentation to introduce objectives 1-4.

Instructor will guide students as a group through cladogram activity, leaving incomplete work as homework.

Work sheet

Use this table to make your cladogram and Send e-mail to me for your answer and i will respond your answer as fast as posible