Systematics Lab

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2011, Volume 32

Sarah E. Jardeleza

Abstract

Systematics is fundamental to all modern biology and all science students should and will see phylogenetic trees at some point. However, there are few opportunities for students to understand the science behind systematics. This lab serves as an introduction to "reading" phylogenetic trees and the processes that go into making the trees themselves from databases by utilizing the free, user-friendly program Geneious©. Helping our students learn the systematics language and understanding what goes into an analysis increases their appreciation for the importance of systematics and how it affects not only science but also their lives.

Keywords:  evolution, systematics, bioinformatics, phylogenetic analysis, BLAST, GenBank, Geneious

University of Toronto, Mississauga (2008)