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Creating Phylogenetic Trees from DNA Sequences

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Phylogenetic tree of cone snails

Topic

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • DNA & RNA
  • Biotechnology
  • Evolution
  • Phylogeny

Resource Type

  • Interactive Media
  • Click & Learn

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Saved By
55 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This interactive module shows how DNA sequences can be used to infer evolutionary relationships among organisms and represent them as phylogenetic trees.

Phylogenetic trees are diagrams of evolutionary relationships among organisms. Scientists can estimate these relationships by studying the organisms’ DNA sequences. As the organisms evolve and diverge, their DNA sequences accumulate mutations. Scientists compare these mutations using sequence alignments to reconstruct evolutionary history.

The accompanying “Worksheet” guides students’ exploration of the Click & Learn.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

  • Explain how molecular sequences, such as DNA, can be used to study evolutionary relationships.
  • Summarize the process and goals of DNA sequence alignment. 
  • Interpret a simple phylogenetic tree.
     

Estimated Time

One 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

bioinformatics, DNA sequencing, evolutionary tree, indel, molecular phylogeny, mutation, sequence alignment, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

Interactive media partially meets criteria.

Version History

Date Published 02.27.11

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4-1; SEP2, SEP4, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.N, EVO-3.B, EVO-3.C, IST-4.A; SP1, SP2, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

5.1, 5.4, B.5

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, SP5

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.7, ELA.RST.9–12.9

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1; DP1, DP3

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Worksheet (PDF) 411 KB
Worksheet - Español (PDF) 202 KB

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
Educator in front of a screenshot of an interactive about phylogenetic trees Play Video Next Slide Next Slide
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1-Minute Tips

Phylogenetic Trees Click and Learn

Paul Strode describes the BioInteractive Click & Learn activity on DNA sequencing and phylogenetic trees. He explains how it teaches students about DNA sequence alignment, and how those sequence differences allow researchers to determine relationships between species.
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This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists

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By: BioInteractive
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