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Cladistics Worksheet

The document discusses cladograms, which are diagrams that depict evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms based on shared derived characteristics. Cladistics is a method of analysis that examines innovations or newer features in organisms to group them according to their evolutionary classification rather than physical appearance. Examples are provided of how to construct and interpret cladograms using characteristics of different species.

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José David Bernal Ortiz
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208 views4 pages

Cladistics Worksheet

The document discusses cladograms, which are diagrams that depict evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms based on shared derived characteristics. Cladistics is a method of analysis that examines innovations or newer features in organisms to group them according to their evolutionary classification rather than physical appearance. Examples are provided of how to construct and interpret cladograms using characteristics of different species.

Uploaded by

José David Bernal Ortiz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Name: _________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Hour:_________

CLADOGRAM ANALYSIS

What is a cladogram? It is a diagram that depicts evolutionary relationships among groups. It is based on PHYLOGENY,
which is the study of evolutionary relationships. Sometimes a cladogram is called a phylogenetic tree (though
technically, there are minor differences between the two).

In the past, biologists would group organisms based solely on their physical appearance. Today, with the advances in
genetics and biochemistry, biologists can look more closely at individuals to discover their pattern of evolution, and
group them accordingly - this strategy is called EVOLUTIONARY CLASSIFICATION

CLADISTICS is form of analysis that looks at features of organisms that are considered "innovations", or newer features
that serve some kind of purpose. (Think about what the word "innovation" means in regular language.) These
characteristics appear in later organisms but not earlier ones and are called DERIVED CHARACTERS.

Fill out the following character matrix. Mark an “X” if an organism has the trait.

Cells Legs Antenna Wings 2 sets of wings


Worm
Spider
Carpenter Ant
House fly
Dragonfly

In the box below, create a cladogram based off your matrix.


1. According to your cladogram, which two species are more closely related: worms and spiders or worms
and ants? How do you know?

2. According to your cladogram, what species are dragonflies most closely related to? How do you know?

Use the following cladogram to answer the questions below.

3. What trait separates lampreys from tuna on this cladogram?

4. What separates a salamander from a turtle?

5. Which organism is most related to the leopard?

6. Which organism’s DNA will differ the most from the leopard? Why?
Use the following cladogram to answer the questions below.

8. What separates rabbits/primate from the crocodiles on this cladogram?

9. Which organism is most related to the rodents and rabbits on this cladogram?

10. What 5 traits do the bird and its closest relative share?
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

11. Which organism will have DNA most similar to the bird? Why?

12. Which organism’s DNA will differ the most from the bird? Why?

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