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Molecular Biology and Primate Phylogenics
By counting differences in amino acids, biology stars examine the relationships between different primates. With information gleaned, they map out a phylogenic tree and discover common ancestry. You will need to create printable versions...
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Phylogeny
Here is an unusual collection of slides. The first, which is upside down, is the phylogeny of fish. Next comes an article about invasive lampreys in the Great Lakes area. The third slide shows the life cycle of sea lampreys. A reptilian...
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Studying Species By Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family
Students read an article on the characteristics of wolves and dogs then complete a phylogenetic tree of the canid family. They then write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
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Classification, Keys, and Phylogenetci Trees
Students analyze relationships about animals and create a model of classifications based on both the similarities and the differences. They also discuss a dichotomous key before they create a cladograph using different types of candy.
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Fishes
In this fish worksheet, students will review the characteristics of fish by comparing the jaws, skeleton, and fertilization of each fish class. Then students will use a phylogenetic tree to compare the groups of fish to ancestral...
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Systematics: Classifying Organisms
Students describe the techniques biologists use to classify organisms. In this biology lesson, students create cladograms and phylogenetic trees. They list the levels of taxonomic hierarchy.
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Molecular Approaches to Evolution
Students are introduced to working with molecular data. The first activity does both simulated and original data are used to compare amino acid, protein or DNA differences to construct phylogenetic trees or cladograms. These activities...
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Examining the Fossil Record
Students create an evolutionary tree based on fossil morphology and their ages. In this fossil record lesson plan, students are given 23 pictures of fossil. They study their morphology and arrange the fossils by age and structures on a...
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Studying Species by Examining the Evolution of the Canidae Family
Students examine the definition of species. Students complete a phylogentic tree of the Canidae family. They write an essay justifying why or why not wolves and dogs should be classified as different species.
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Where Should We Place Archaeopteryx?
Students classify Archaeopteryx using pictures of actual fossils and scientist representations of how the animal might have looked. They compare Archaeopteryx's characteristics to those of the five extant vertebrate groups to...
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Using Amino Acid Sequences to Show Evolutionary Relationships
Compare protein fragments, count amino acids, and use the information to explore common ancestry. The resource mentions a student worksheet, however, a separate printable worksheet is not provided. The exercises are written into the...
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The Cytochrome-C Lab
Young scholars examine a method biologists use to try to determine relationships. They examine how amino acid sequences have been determined for a number of proteins, and how scientists can make inferences about DNA based on the amino...
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Dichotomous Key
In this species worksheet, students use a dichotomous key to identify the 8 different species of "Norns," a fictitious animal group.
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Molecular Approaches to Evolution
High schoolers examine the molecular studies of organisms that have led to a new era in their understanding of speciation and evolutionary relationships. Students study the allelic frequency of genes controlling specific molecules and...
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Adaptations of Fishes for Survival in Polar Environments
High schoolers compare the anatomy of temperature and polar fishes. They explore the adverse effects of cold on metabolism and physiology and discuss how polar fishes adapt to their environments. Comparisons are also made to the DNA...
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Classification
In this classification worksheet, students observe the fingerprints provided. Students decide upon a classification system to use to categorize the given fingerprints.
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Pond Life Identification Kit
Students explore ecology and biodiversty. They use the wet-mount procedure to make several slides to view using the microscope and draw what they see.
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Anolis Lizards of the Greater Antilles
Students "take a trip" to the Greater Antilles to observethe Anolis lizards. They study the body structures and habitat of different species, then plot this data on a map to look for patterns in their distribution. From the patterns they...
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Nuts & Bolts: is Classification, Arbitrary, Or Not?
Students, in groups, classify furniture, share their categories and rationales, then note how their different schemes vary, perfectly logical and useful, but completely arbitrary.
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History Theory of Evolution
Learners identify fossils. They identify evidence of change over time when given pictures of fossils to determine the proper sequencing. In addition, they determine evolutionary relationships by comparing embryonic structures.
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Fossils-Where Should We Place Archaeopteryx?
Students explore an interactive computer activity that provides the opportunity to look at features of various groups of animals and determine where an extinct organism might be classified.