How Does a Cladogram Reveal Evolutionary Relationships?

download pdf google doc

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.

PART I - Analyze the Cladogram

Examine the sample cladogram, each letter on the diagram points to a derived character, or something different (or newer) than what was seen in previous groups. Match the letter to its character. Note: this cladogram was created for simplicity and understanding, it does not represent the established phylogeny for insects and their relatives.

cladogram

 

1. ______ Wings
2. ______ 6 Legs
3. ______ Segmented Body
4. ______ Double set of wings
5. ______ Cerci (abdominal appendages)
6. ______ Crushing mouthparts
7. ______ Legs
8. ______ Curly Antennae


PART II - Create Your Own Cladogram

To make a cladogram, you must first look at the animals you are studying and establish characteristics that they share and ones that are unique to each group. For the animals on the table, indicate whether the characteristic is present or not. Based on that chart, create a cladogram like the one pictured above.

  Cells
Backbone
Legs
Hair
Opposable Thumbs
Slug          
Catfish          
Frog          
Tiger          
Human          

DRAWING OF YOUR CLADOGRAM

 


Other Resources on Cladograms

Exploring Phylogenetic Trees with Wolves - compare dogs, wolves, and coyotes and analyze a phylogenetic tree of canids

Practice with Taxonomy and Classification:   reinforcement activity, focuses on kingdoms and scientific names

Bear Species and DNA - activity from Learn.Genetics explores relationships between different types of bears

Fingerprint Classification - look at fingerprints and develop a way to classify them

Taxonomy Project - students create their own kingdoms, phyla and other group classification and then design organisms

Create a Cladogram of Shapes - Use simple shapes, like triangle and square to model evolution