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BIO311D SPR 22 WK4 Discussion - Assignment

1) The document provides instructions for an assignment involving constructing a phylogenetic tree of eight Cladebug specimens based on phenotypic observations. 2) Students are asked to organize their observations of the specimens into a data matrix according to various traits. 3) Using the data matrix, students work in groups with their TA to identify shared traits between specimens and begin grouping them on the phylogenetic tree. 4) The goal is to produce a final phylogenetic tree showing evolutionary relationships and divergence of the Cladebug taxa from their most recent common ancestor.

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Avin deSilva
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145 views5 pages

BIO311D SPR 22 WK4 Discussion - Assignment

1) The document provides instructions for an assignment involving constructing a phylogenetic tree of eight Cladebug specimens based on phenotypic observations. 2) Students are asked to organize their observations of the specimens into a data matrix according to various traits. 3) Using the data matrix, students work in groups with their TA to identify shared traits between specimens and begin grouping them on the phylogenetic tree. 4) The goal is to produce a final phylogenetic tree showing evolutionary relationships and divergence of the Cladebug taxa from their most recent common ancestor.

Uploaded by

Avin deSilva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Name_______Avin deSilva________________EiD_______atd859___________

BIO311D Spring 2022 Partridge: Week 4 Discussion

● Submit assignment via Canvas by midnight Fri. 6pts available towards your final grade.
● You may complete the assignment by yourself if you choose not to attend discussion
times. **Attendance not required –but STRONGLY advised**
This assignment will be a lot easier with your TA leading the way
● For the first 10-15 minutes of discussion, your TA will do a recap of some of the key
points covered in week 2.
● After, split into your groups. Work through the “cladebug” assignment below.
● This assignment requires drawing phylogenetic trees. Either use a tablet/digital pen setup, other
software, or use a pen and paper and scan/photo your efforts to insert into the document
before submission.

As a scientist, you have gone to the hill country to collect Cladebugs, a group of insects. You
collect eight specimens representing eight different taxa. One of the taxa appears to be only
distantly related (called the “outgroup”). To keep the specimens straight, you’ve given them
all nicknames. Your specimens are shown below.
Name_______Avin deSilva________________EiD_______atd859___________

Data Matrix
You wish to develop a phylogenetic tree to understand the evolutionary relationships
between your Cladebug specimens. As a first step, organize your phenotypic observations
using the table below. This will help you see which bugs are closely related. For your
reference, a diagram of the bugs’ anatomy is included. [2pts]
Name_______Avin deSilva________________EiD_______atd859___________

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

head number
fused to of toes number
thorax per foot of legs antennae horns thorax abdomen
0 = yes 0 = two 0 = four 0 = absent 0 = absent 0 = all white 0 = white
1 = no 1 = three 1 = six 1 = present 1 = present 1 = hour glass 1 = black
Joe
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(Outgroup)
1 1 0 0 1 0 1
April
1 1 1 1 0 0 0
Mike
1 1 1 1 0 1 1
Tanya
1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bobby
1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Jason
1 1 1 1 0 1 0
Jerry
1 1 0 0 1 0 1
Jane

Phylogenetic Tree
Using the information in your Data Matrix, you can make a phylogenetic tree.

The first step is grouping the cladebugs by their shared traits. – work with your TA to make
sure you’re on the right track. [2pts]

Head fused to Thorax April, Mike, Tanya, Bobby, Jason, Jerry, Jane

Number of Toes April, Mike Tanya, Jason, Jerry, Jane

Number of Legs Mike, Tanya, Jason, Jerry

Antenne Mike, Tanya, Jerry

Horns April, Jane


Name_______Avin deSilva________________EiD_______atd859___________

Thorax Tanya, Jerry

Abdomen Mike, Tanya, Jane

Bearing in mind the principles learned this week, you should be able to recognize each
‘Cladebug” as a separate taxon, and start to think about how they each diverged from a Most
Recent Common Ancestor. Nodes, or splits in their phylogenetic development can be
represented by branches off the tree.

e.g.

Draw a final phylogenetic tree for these Cladebugs [2pts]. Tips:


● Joe (the outgroup) would be at the start of the tree
● April, Jane, Tanya, Jerry, Mike, and Jason are all derived Taxons that need arranging
according to their shared traits.
Name_______Avin deSilva________________EiD_______atd859___________

● Mark the ‘nodes” points where subsets emerge, that represent the hypothesis of a
shared ancestor.

7* - hourglass symbol likely evolved independently, as Tanya, Jane and April share this trait but
Jane and April evolved together while Tanya comes later down the tree

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