Exploring Dichotomous Keys

The video tutorial explains how living organisms are classified into groups, becoming more specific from domain to species. It introduces the dichotomous key as a tool for identifying organisms based on their characteristics. The video provides a detailed guide on using a dichotomous key, including examples of identifying insects by following a series of questions. The tutorial also briefly mentions cladograms for studying evolutionary relationships but focuses on dichotomous keys.

What is the purpose of a dichotomous key?

• To identify organisms based on their characteristics

• To study the behavior of organisms

• To classify organisms based on their evolutionary history

• To create a family tree of organisms

What is the first step when using a dichotomous key?

• Start with the last pair of characteristics

• Skip to the second pair of characteristics

• Choose both options in the first pair

• Start with the first pair of characteristics

When using a dichotomous key, what should you do after deciding which option fits your organism?

• Start over from the first pair

• Choose both options

• Follow the direction at the end of the line

• Move to the next pair of characteristics

In the example of identifying a moth, what characteristic was used to move from the first pair to the second pair?

• The insect has large dark spots

• The insect has stripes

• The insect has wings that are spread out

• The insect has long antenna

What characteristic was used to move from the second pair to the third pair in the moth example?

• The insect has two sets of visible wings

• The insect has short antenna

• The insect has long antenna

• The insect has one set of visible wings

What was the final characteristic used to identify the moth?

• The insect has stripes

• The insect has one set of visible wings

• The insect has two sets of visible wings

• The insect has long antenna

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

In the second example, what characteristic was used to skip to question four?

• The insect has wings that are spread out

• The insect does not have wings that are spread out

• The insect has large dark spots

• The insect has stripes

What characteristic was used to move from question four to question five in the second example?

• The insect has large dark spots

• The insect is solid colored

• The insect has stripes

• The insect does not have stripes

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What was the final characteristic used to identify the insect with large dark spots?

• The insect has stripes

• The insect does not have stripes

• The insect is solid colored

• The insect has large dark spots

What is the scientific name format mentioned in the video?

• First name lowercase, second name capitalized

• Both names capitalized

• First name capitalized, second name lowercase

• Both names lowercase