Meet the Family: Investigating Primate Relationships

In this lesson students will see the different types of evidence scientists use to understand evolutionary relationships among organisms. They will first practice by using shared physical characteristics to predict relationships among members of the cat family and then use this approach to predict primate relationships. They will compare their predictions to evidence provided by analyzing amino acid sequences and build a phylogenetic tree based on these sequences. Finally, they will look at the tree in the context of time in order to see divergence times.

Resource ID#: 108769 Type: Lesson Plan

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Direct Link: https://web.mit.edu/blossoms/videos/lessons/meet_family_investigating_primate_relationships

General Information

Subject(s): Science

Grade Level(s): 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Intended Audience: Educators , Students

Suggested Technology: Computer for Presenter, LCD Projector

Instructional Time: 1 Hour(s)

Keywords: Evolution, Primates, Fossils, Phylogenetic tree, Amino Acid Sequence

Instructional Component Type(s): Lesson Plan, Problem-Solving Task, Video/Audio/Animation, Student Center Activity

Instructional Design Framework(s): Guided Inquiry (Level 3)

Resource Collection: MIT BLOSSOMS

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