Unit 5.4 Cladistics

Essential idea: The ancestry of groups of species
5.4 Cladistics can be deduced by comparing their base or

amino acid sequences.
The images above are both cladograms. They show the

statistical similarities between species based on their
DNA/RNA. The cladogram on the left show bacteria
classified using the 16 S ribosomal RNA gene. The
cladogram on the right uses retroviral sequences which
have been incoporated into ape DNA and then inherited
to build a picture of the relationships between apes. It’s
an Interesting fact that humans have around 100,000
endogenous retroviruses incorporated into their DNA.
http://www.faraday.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/CIS/Finlay/images/image3.jpg
http://openi.nlm.nih.gov/imgs/512/196/3364987/3364987_pone.0038062.g002.
Understandings, Applications and Skills
Statement Guidance
5.4.U1 A clade is a group of organisms that have evolved
from a common ancestor.
5.4.U2 Evidence for which species are part of a clade can
be obtained from the base sequences of a gene or
the corresponding amino acid sequence of a
protein.
5.4.U3 Sequence differences accumulate gradually so
there is a positive correlation between the number
of differences between two species and the time
since they diverged from a common ancestor.
5.4.U4 Traits can be analogous or homologous.
5.4.U5 Cladograms are tree diagrams that show the most
probable sequence of divergence in clades.
5.4.U6 Evidence from cladistics has shown that
classifications of some groups based on structure
did not correspond with the evolutionary origins of
a group or species.
5.4.A1 Cladograms including humans and other primates.
5.4.A2 Reclassification of the figwort family using
evidence from cladistics.
5.4.S1 Analysis of cladograms to deduce evolutionary
relationships.
5.4.U5 Cladograms are tree diagrams that show the most probable sequence of divergence in clades.
A cladogram is a tree diagram showing the similarities and

differences between different species
The branching points on
cladograms are called nodes.
Nodes denote a speciation

event when a common
ancestor splits into two, or
more, species.
Cladograms are mostly based on DNA base

sequences or the amino acid sequences in a
protein.
Software applications combine multiple

sequences* to find the most probable pattern of
divergence.
*Cladograms can show different relationships between species depending on the DNA/amino acid
sequences used in the analysis. It is important therefore to use multiple sequences when trying to
identify the true evolutionary relationships between species.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Ancestors_Tale_Mammals_cladogram.png
5.4.U1 A clade is a group of organisms that have evolved from a common ancestor.
Species may evolve over time to form a new species. Consequently there are
groups of species derived from a common ancestor. Such groups are called Clades.
Clades can be small Clades can be large (large clades

can contain smaller clades)
Not all members of a
clade may exist today, e.g.
dinosaurs
Common ancestors often do not exist, as they have

evolved into modern species or have become extinct.
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/evo101/images/reptileclade1.gif
5.4.A1 Cladograms including humans and other primates.
The DNA evidence used to build this

cladogram of primates,
including humans. can also be used to
estimate when species diverged and
hence when the common ancestor
existed.
https://sites.google.com/a/canacad.ac.jp/sl-hl-1-biology-4-ferguson/_/rsrc/1403598223535/unit-11-ecology/5-4-cladistics/primate%20cladogram.jpg
5.4.U2 Evidence for which species are part of a clade can be obtained from the base sequences of a gene or the
corresponding amino acid sequence of a protein. 5.4.U3 Sequence differences accumulate gradually so there is
a positive correlation between the number of differences between two species and the time since they diverged
from a common ancestor.
Mutations in DNA that persist and are inherited* occur at
a predictable rate#.
For example mitochondrial DNA from humans
and primates has been completely sequenced and
used to construct cladogram between them.
The rate at which mutations occur at can be

used as a molecular clock to calculate how long
ago species diverged.
If the DNA base sequences or two species are

similar …
… then few mutations have occurred …
… therefore the species only diverged relatively
recently
The length of the lines separating species on

cladograms is often used to represent the
estimated time since they diverged.
* In species that reproduce sexually for mutations to be #When considering multiple changes in the base sequence
inherited they must occur duration the creation of sex cells. of DNA. The sample size is large enough to estimate a mean
rate of mutation.
https://sites.google.com/a/canacad.ac.jp/sl-hl-1-biology-4-ferguson/_/rsrc/1403598223535/unit-11-ecology/5-4-cladistics/primate%20cladogram.jpg
5.4.S1 Analysis of cladograms to deduce evolutionary relationships.
1. What animal is most closely

related to a squirrel?
2. What animals are more

closely related to humans
that old world monkeys?
3. Tarsiers share a common ancestor with

which animals?
4. Elephant shrews, Elephants, Manatee and

dugong all share a common ancestor.
Which animal diverged from the ancestor
first?

Guinea pig

which animals?

first?

Guinea pig
Gibbons, Orangutans, Gorillas,
Bonobos, and Common Chimpanzees

which animals?

first?

Guinea pig

which animals?
New world monkeys, Old world monkeys,
Gibbons, Orangutans, Gorilla, Humans,
bonobos, common chimpanzees
first?

Guinea pig

which animals?
New world monkeys, Old world monkeys,
Gibbons, Orangutans, Gorilla, Humans,
bonobos, common chimpanzees
first?
Elephant shrew
5.4.U4 Traits can be analogous or homologous.
Homologous structures are similar Analogous structures are similar

because of common ancestry because of convergent evolution
e.g. pentadactyl limbs e.g. the human eye and the octopus eye
Both have similar structures to provide similar

function, but have evolved independently.
In the past relying on homologous structures to classification has led to mistakes in classification.
Distinguishing between homologous and analogous structures is not straightforward
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/images/limbs_homology_not.gif
5.4.A2 Reclassification of the figwort family using evidence from cladistics.
5.4.U6 Evidence from cladistics has shown that classifications
of some groups based on structure did not correspond with
the evolutionary origins of a group or species.
DNA evidence identified the different

common ancestors
The similarities among the members of the
old Scrophulariaceae family were
superficial.
The general flower shape and form of the
seed capsule evolved many times from
different ancestors (convergent evolution).
Different plant species adapted to similar
pollinators and adopted similar seed
dispersal strategies.
DNA evidence has cast doubt on some

traditionally classified groups, but equally it has
given support to others.
Though DNA evidence is very important, it must

be remembered that is not the only evidence
used to decide evolutionary relationships.
http://www.hopspress.com/Books/Images/Scrophulariaceae.jpg
Bibliography / Acknowledgments
Jason de Nys

Unit 5.4 Cladistics

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Unit 5.4 Cladistics

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Essential idea: The ancestry of groups of species

5.4 Cladistics can be deduced by comparing their base or

The images above are both cladograms. They show the

A cladogram is a tree diagram showing the similarities and

Nodes denote a speciation

Cladograms are mostly based on DNA base

Software applications combine multiple

Clades can be small Clades can be large (large clades

Common ancestors often do not exist, as they have

The DNA evidence used to build this

The rate at which mutations occur at can be

If the DNA base sequences or two species are

The length of the lines separating species on

1. What animal is most closely

2. What animals are more

3. Tarsiers share a common ancestor with

4. Elephant shrews, Elephants, Manatee and

1. What animal is most closely

3. Tarsiers share a common ancestor with

4. Elephant shrews, Elephants, Manatee and

1. What animal is most closely

3. Tarsiers share a common ancestor with

4. Elephant shrews, Elephants, Manatee and

1. What animal is most closely

3. Tarsiers share a common ancestor with

1. What animal is most closely

3. Tarsiers share a common ancestor with

Homologous structures are similar Analogous structures are similar

Both have similar structures to provide similar

DNA evidence identified the different

DNA evidence has cast doubt on some

Though DNA evidence is very important, it must

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