Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this lab, students will be able to:
- Define the difference between taxonomy and phylogenetics.
- Understand the importance of evolution in the study of biology.
- Use phylogenetic analysis to reconstruct evolutionary relationships (also called tree thinking).
As an introduction to this section, please watch the following video, and then take the quiz (Laulima>Tests and Quizzes>9.1 Phylogenetics Quiz). The quiz is due at 11:55 PM the night before your next lab (e.g., Quiz 1 is due at 11:55PM the night before your scheduled Lab 2 start time).
- Tree Thinking (7:08) (Borrowed from: Biology 1220 at Georgia Tech)
Part 1: Background Reading
The Hawaiian Islands provide many excellent examples of evolution. Some of the best known examples of adaptive radiations include Hawaiian Honeycreepers, Tree Snails, Silverswords and Picture-Winged Drosophila. This week you will explore the kinds of evidence that are used to construct evolutionary trees and how different kinds of evidence can be combined to ask and answer different evolutionary questions. Start by reading Evolution in Hawaii – Background. This document will examine the origins of the Hawaiian Islands and provide information about the process of adaptive radiation and building evolutionary trees. If you would more information about the characteristics of Hawaiian Drosophila that make them a good model for evolutionary research, you can read the essay: Hawaiian Drosophila as an Evolutionary Model Clade.
Part 2: Evolution in Hawaii Worksheet
When you have finished reading the articles posted above and on Laulima, complete the Evolution in Hawaii Drosophila Worksheet. Post your finished worksheet to your Laulima Dropbox at least 30 minutes before the start of your regularly scheduled lab (Week of April 20, 2020).