Performance Task 4: Cladistic Analysis

One way to discover how groups of organisms are related to each other (phylogeny) is to
compare the anatomical structures (body organs and parts) of many different organisms.
Corresponding organs and other body parts that are alike in basic structure and origin are said to
be homologous structures (for example, the front legs of a horse, the wings of a bird, flippers of a
whale, and arms of a person are all homologous to each other). When different organisms share a
large number of homologous structures, it is considered strong evidence that they are related to
one another. When organisms are related to each other, it means they must have had a common
ancestor at some point in the past. If there are specific modifications of those features shared by
different groups of organisms, we say that those features are shared derived characters.

When we do studies in comparative anatomy and find different numbers of shared derived
characters exist between different groups, we can draw a diagram of branching lines which connect
these groups, showing their different degrees of relationships. These diagrams are called
cladograms. The more derived characteristics two organisms share, the closer their evolutionary
relationship and the more recently their common ancestor lived.

Step 1: Using your textbook, your notes, and the explanations below, determine which of the
characteristics each animal has. In the data table provided, place an X in the box if the animal has
the characteristic.

Characteristics:
Set #1:
o Cells
Set #2:
o Possess true nucleus
Set #3
o Symmetry
Set#4:
o Bilateral Symmetry
Set #5:
o Mesoderm
Set #6:
o Head develops first
Set#7:
o Anus develops first
Set #8:
o Vertebrae
Set #9:
o Bony skeleton
Set #10:
o Four limbs
Set #11
o Amniotic egg
Set #12
o Eggs with shells
 Performance Task 4: Cladistic Analysis
Step 2: Using your table of characteristics, draw a cladogram to illustrate the ancestry of these
animals (this can either be done by hand or digitally, just note that the finished product will be
turned in on your website). The diagram should reflect shared characteristics as time proceeds. An
example is shown below. Notice how the different animals are all at the same time level (across the
top) since they all live today.

Example of cladogram:

***The organisms are shown at the tip of the stems, the shared derived features are
shown by solid square boxes along the branches, and the common ancestors are
shown by open circles.

Step 3: After completing the cladogram, explain at least three pieces of information that can be
obtained from your cladogram.

Step 4: Three previously unknown vertebrate animals have been discovered in a rainforest in
South America. One animal is very similar to an iguana lizard. The second animal resembles a large
rat. The third is similar to a goldfish. Place these animals on your cladogram and explain why you
placed them where you did.
 Performance Task 4: Cladistic Analysis

Step 1: Table
Animals
Rabbits Starfish Flatwor Crocodiles Jellyfish Ray-finned Sponge Snails Methanococcus
Sets Traits m fish

1 Cells x x x x x x x x x
2 Possess true x x x x x x x x
nucleus
3 Symmetry x x x x x x x
4 Bilateral x x x x x
Symmetry
5 Mesoderm x x x x x x
6 Head x x
develops first
7 Anus develops x x x
first
8 Vertebrae x x x

9 Bony Skeleton x x

10 Four limbs x x

11 Amniotic egg x x

12 Eggs with x x
shells
Total #of Xs 10 5 5 11 4 8 2 5 1

Step 2: Cladogram (include a picture of your original cladogram here it does not have
part 4 added to it yet)
 Performance Task 4: Cladistic Analysis

Step 3: Pieces of Information Derived from Cladogram

1. The cladogram shows how the Methanococcus is related to all the other animals.
 Performance Task 4: Cladistic Analysis
This means that at some point all the following species (sponge, starfish, jellyfish,
flatworm, snails, ray-finned fish, rabbit, and crocodile) evolved from the
Methanococcus.

2. The rabbit and the crocodile are very closely related because they have all the same
traits except one, eggs with shells.

3. You can conclude that every species after sponge has symmetry. Starfish, jellyfish,
flatworms, snails, ray-finned fish, rabbits, and crocodiles all have symmetry.

Step 4: Updated Cladogram (include a picture of your cladogram that has the new
vertebrates added to it)

I put the goldfish with the Ray-finned fish because it was the closest related species. The
only trait they didn't have in common was eggs with shells.
 Performance Task 4: Cladistic Analysis
The large rat goes with the rabbit because they have the exact same traits, making them
very closely related.

The iguana lizards go with the crocodiles because they share all the same traits.