Yet another Exercise on Relationship Tree Building

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2016, Volume 37

Marianne Neidzlek-Feaver

Abstract

This workshop emphasized the differences among relationship trees built using a Phylogenetics or Cladistics approach or a more Traditional or Classic Systematics approach. Books still mix the two approaches. This is a simple 30-45 minute exercise where groups of students construct a relationship tree using the assumptions of one or the other school.. The exercise challenges and motivates students who start only with a base diagram of an ancestor and the outline of a relationship tree. Students have responded quite positively to this exercise and their ability to correctly answer questions on exams related to clade building certainly has increased.

Keywords:  cladistics, classification, synapomorphy

Boston University (2015)