Title | Competitive Phylogenetics |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | McCabe, DJ |
Journal | The American Biology Teacher |
Volume | 76 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | 127 - 131 |
Date Published | 2014/02 |
ISSN | 00027685 |
Keywords | branch, clade, cladistics, homology, homoplasy, morphology, natural taxon, node, Occam’s razor, out group, parsimony, Phylogeny, polytomy, root, sister group, synapomorphy, terminal node, transition |
Abstract | This exercise demonstrates the principle of parsimony in constructing cladograms. Although it is designed using mammalian cranial characters, the activity could be adapted for characters from any group of organisms. Students score categorical traits on skulls and record the data in a spreadsheet. Using the Mesquite software package, students generate arbitrary cladograms and measure tree length. They then move taxa around to reduce tree length. The exercise can become competitive when students report out on tree lengths and try to achieve shorter trees than their peers. The resulting cladograms can be compared with a published mammalian phylogeny. The exercise illustrates phylogenetics, the principle of parsimony, and hypothesis testing using morphological data. |
DOI | 10.1525/abt.2014.76.2.10 |
Short Title | The American Biology Teacher |
Refereed Designation | Refereed |
Competitive Phylogenetics
Status:
Published
Attributable Grant:
RACC
Grant Year:
Year3
Acknowledged VT EPSCoR:
Ack-No