Chapter 13

Interpreting phylogenetic trees

- A phylogenetic tree is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary
relationships among various biological species or other entities based upon
similarities and differences in their physical or genetic characteristics.

Molecular homology
DNA sequencing
- PCR is heat the DNA to 95 degrees, to break the DNA strands.
Sangar sequencing
- Sangar sequencing is named after the inventior Dr Frederick Sangar.
- Basics of sangar sequencing:
- It all starts by having a short primer binding next to the region of interest. In the
presence of the four nucleotides, the polymerase will extend the primer by adding
on the complementary nucleotide from the template DNA strand. To find the exact
composition of the DNA sequence, we need to bring this reaction to a defined stop
that allows us to identify the base of the very end of this particular DNA fragment.
Sangar did this by removing an oxygen atom from the ribonucleotide. The
polymerase enzyme can no longer add normal nucleotides onto this DNA chain.
DNA DNA hydribidisation
1. DNA is heated up to 87 degrees Celsius. Strands of DNA will separate.
2. At 55 degrees, two strands of DNA will join up together. A hydrid DNA ios DNA
where one strand is from one species and the other strand is from the other species.
3. DNA is heated up and measure the temperature DNA strands separate.