Laboratory Activity No.

3:

Making a Cladogram

A Laboratory Activity
Presented to:
Eva Grace B. Chavez, PhD

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements
For General Zoology
(BBIO 102)

Maria Yna Tuvilla

Danielle Catherine Quitco

September 5, 2021
Objectives:

1. To know characteristics shared by selected animals

2. To demonstrate knowledge in categorizing animals using Character Table

3. To estimate phylogenetic relationship of selected animals based on Character Table data

Introduction

Classification is the organization of organisms into groups (taxa, singular taxon) on the

foundation of their relationships with one another. Moreover, phylogenetics enhances our

understanding of how genes, genomes, species and more specifically, molecular sequences

evolve. Cladistics produces hypotheses about the interrelations of organisms unlike other

systems, it predicts properties of the organisms. Systematics is the study of the different kinds

and the diversity of organisms and their relationships among each other. Taxonomy is the theory

and practice of identifying, describing, naming, and classifying organisms. With this, it allows

scientists to understand diversity better. Enabling us to understand every living organisms’

features, similarities and differences and what makes them unique and interconnected at the same

time. Providing us insight on the different stages of growth and evolution organisms undergo to

reach their full complex for. Additionally, this also increases our knowledge of an organism’s

complexity and its evolution from being a simpler organism. Giving us an idea of the traits

present and identifying the number of species around the world.

 Methodology

These Flatworms Can Regrow A Body From A Fragment. How Do They Do It And

Could We? (2018, November 6). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from NPR.org website:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/06/663612981/these-flatworms-can-regro

w-a-body-from-a-fragment-how-do-they-do-it-and-could-we

Quahog. (2021). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from Uri.edu website:

https://www.edc.uri.edu/restoration/html/gallery/invert/quahog.htm

‌CDC - DPDx - Ascariasis. (2021). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from

https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/ascariasis/index.html

Flatworms, the masters of regeneration – but nothing can happen without stem

cells. (2014). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from Www.mpg.de

website:https://www.mpg.de/8244494/flatworms-regeneration

Sea stars. (2020). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from Science Learning Hub

website:https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/149-sea-stars

Admin. (2019, February 27). Phylum Echinodermata- Characteristics And

Classifications. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from BYJUS

website:https://byjus.com/biology/echinodermata/

Zubi. (2021). Echinoderms (starfish, brittle star, sea urchin, feather star, sea

cucumber). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from Starfish.ch

website:https://www.starfish.ch/reef/echinoderms.html
 Ascaris lumbricoides (human intestinal roundworm). (2011). Retrieved September

8, 2021, from Animal Diversity Web

website:https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ascaris_lumbricoides/#:~:text=Adults%3A%

20The%20roundworm%20Ascaris%20lumbricoides,2%2D4%20mm%20in%20diameter.

INTRODUCTION Ascaris lumbricoides, an intestinal roundworm, is one of the

most common helminthic human infections worldwide. (2021). Retrieved September 8,

2021, from Stanford.edu

website:https://web.stanford.edu/group/parasites/ParaSites2005/Ascaris/JLora_ParaSite.ht

Fernández Robledo, J. A., Yadavalli, R., Allam, B., Pales Espinosa, E., Gerdol, M.,

Greco, S., … Metzger, M. J. (2019). From the raw bar to the bench: Bivalves as models for

human health. Developmental & Comparative Immunology, 92, 260–282. From:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dci.2018.11.020

NOAA Fisheries. (2021). Ocean Quahog. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from NOAA

website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ocean-quahog

Earthworm Characteristics. (2018). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from Sciencing

website: https://sciencing.com/earthworm-characteristics-5480698.html

an. (2017, January 28). What kind of symmetry does an adult starfish have? |

Socratic. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from Socratic.org

website:https://socratic.org/questions/what-kind-of-symmetry-does-an-adult-starfish-have#

:~:text=Explanation%3A,pentaradially%20symmetrical%20adult%20after%20metamorp

hosis.&text=Body%20of%20an%20adult%20starfish,by%20cutting%20along%205%20r

adii.
 Nematode - New World Encyclopedia. (2021). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from

Newworldencyclopedia.org website:

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nematode

Earthworm - New World Encyclopedia. (2021). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from

Newworldencyclopedia.org

website:https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Earthworm

Starfish - New World Encyclopedia. (2021). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from

Newworldencyclopedia.org website: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Starfish‌

Starfish | Wild Republic. (2020). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from

Wildrepublic.com

website:https://www.wildrepublic.com/product/starfish/#:~:text=While%20fish%20propel

%20themselves%20with,to%20help%20them%20move%20along.&text=the%20central%

20disc.-,While%20fish%20propel%20themselves%20with%20their%20tails%2C%20starf

ish%20have%20tiny,is%20actually%20filtered%20sea%20water.

What is the importance of taxonomy? | Socratic. (2018, April 2). What is the

importance of taxonomy? | Socratic. Retrieved September 8, 2021, from Socratic.org

website: https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-the-importance-of-taxonomy

why there is need to classify the organisms - Biology - TopperLearning.com |

typoin99. (2018). Retrieved September 8, 2021, from TopperLearning.com

website:https://www.topperlearning.com/answer/why-there-is-need-to-classify-the-organis

ms/typoin99#:~:text=It%20is%20necessary%20to%20classify%20organisms%20because

%3A&text=It%20helps%20in%20the%20identification,their%20features%2C%20similar

ities%20and%20differences.
Results
 Conclusion

The researchers concluded that the outgroup taxa (Grasshopper) has the least to none

shared common traits among the given samples of organisms. The Starfish and the Planaria

Worm(flatworm) are the ancestors out of the given organisms due to these organisms having the

most shared common traits. Additionally, the Clownfish shares the hermaphroditic trait with the

Starfish and the Planaria Worm (flatworm), though it is still one of the organisms with the least

shared common traits next to the outgroup (Grasshopper). The researchers have also observed

that in order to properly classify and distinguish the organisms, it is important to know the

characteristics of each organism to tally their similarities and unique traits and understand their

differences and connections. The researchers concluded that in order to show the relationship and

evolutions of each organism, we must learn how to fully illustrate and utilize cladograms and

character tables. Cladograms and character tables are important for organizing and differentiating

the traits of the organisms, so that we are able to understand the relationships and diversity

amongst organisms.