Cladograms Lesson

Which group of animals on this tree are most closely related to birds?

• Saurischian dinosaurs

• Ornithischian dinosaurs

• Crocodiles

• None of these are related to birds

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

According to this tree, which of these animal phyla are most closely related?

• Arthropoda & Mollusca

• Arthropoda & Chordata

• Chordata & Mollusca

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

All the animals to the right of the hagfish would have the common characteristic of -

• Fur

• Claws or nails

• Lungs

• Jaws

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A biologist sequences a gene shared by five different species. The percentage of sequence similarity for four different gene segments, A, B, C, and D, are shown in the table. Using the data in the table, move the species labels into the blank boxes of the cladogram to show the relationships among the species.

b

c

d

e

a

1

5

4

2

3

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A biologist sequences a gene shared by five different species. The percentage of sequence similarity for four different gene segments, A, B, C, and D, are shown in the table.

Using the data in the table, move the species labels into the blank boxes of the cladogram to show the relationships among the species.

b

c

d

e

a

4

2

5

3

1

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-1

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

NGSS.HS-LS4-4

The diagram below represents possible genetic relationships between groups of organisms.

Which statement is a valid conclusion that can be drawn from the diagram?

• Insects are more complex than mammals.

• Earthworms and sea stars have a common ancestor.

• Snails appeared on Earth before corals.

• Sponges were the last new species to appear on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What is the purpose of a cladogram?

• To map the ancestral relationships and shared traits of different organisms.

• To trace the inherited traits of a single species over time.

• To check the likelihood of an offspring having a particular trait.

• To monitor mutations that arise among different populations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

According to the diagram, what is the common ancestor of ALL organisms on the phylogenetic tree?

• B

• C

• D

• E

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Using the diagram, is organism 4 MORE closely related to organism 3 or 5?

• 3

• 5

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

According to the diagram, what was the last common ancestor of organisms 2 and 3?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2