Name ___________________________________________________ Date ____________________ Period __________
Cladograms – Modern Classification
Chapter 17 Section 2
1. Before you begin analyzing cladograms, define the following vocabulary terms:
Vocab
Definition
Phylogeny
Characters
Cladistics
Cladogram
Ancestral character
(495)
Derived character
(495)
2. Discuss how the following information is used as evidence for determining evolutionary relationships:
a. Morphological characters:
b. Macromolecule (Biochemical) characters:
3. What is the difference between ancestral characteristics and derived characteristics?
4. The branches of a cladogram indicate ____________________________ (evolutionary history).
5. Draw and label Figure 17.11 in your textbook.
6. When constructing a cladogram, what is the primary assumption made by systematists (pg. 496)?
7. Think about the characteristics of the following methods of transportation: bicycle, car, motorcycle, airplane,
and walking.
a. Complete your cladogram by filling in each method of transportation on the appropriate line at the top.
Airplane
Wings
Passengers enclosed
Motor
Wheels
Analyze the cladogram above in order to answer the following questions.
b. Of those listed, what is the oldest mode of transportation? How is that illustrated on this cladogram?
c. Which mode(s) or transportation has/have enclosed passengers?
d. What is the derived characteristic that separates bicycles from motorcycles, cars and airplanes?
e. Give an example of an ancestral characteristic that would be placed at the
ALL of the listed modes of transportation.
f.
and would be shared by
Defend this statement. Airplanes are more closely related to cars than to bicycles.
8. Fill in the following table, placing a
in the box if the organism has the trait. Then create a cladogram.
Slug
Cells
Vertebrae
Four Limbs
Hair
Thumbs
Fish
Frog
Tiger
Human