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Back Garden Phylogenetics

Back Garden Phylogenetics

  Secondary | Environment | Views: 911

  • A phylogenetic tree shows the ancestors and relationships between biological entities, such as species, animals, humans, trees. Follow Rodrigo’s video to learn how to create your own!
  • People have built these trees based on morphology, but now we use genomes to make more complex trees.
  • We will use observable characteristics, and you can do the same with organisms you find!
  • Find your organisms and choose you criteria - what features do they have in common? What is different? For example: shell, legs, exoskeleton, pincers, wings. This will help you build your phylogenetic tree!
  • Make a line, or branches of the tree, showing what all animals have in common. For example, can they make their own food?
  • Then, create your smaller groups based on what the living things have in common.
  • Can you name any of your groups? For example molluscs or annelids.

Show us the phylogenetic tree of your local environment! Send your work to askanambassador@canterbury.ac.uk or tag us on Twitter @STEMHUB_SE


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