What This Document Is
This is a laboratory exercise designed to guide students through the process of building evolutionary trees – phylogenies – using molecular data. Specifically, it focuses on utilizing DNA sequence information to understand relationships between different organisms. It builds upon previously learned concepts of phylogeny construction using morphological traits and introduces the advantages and challenges of incorporating molecular evidence. This exercise is part of the Genetics and Evolution (IB 201) course at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is ideal for students enrolled in genetics, evolution, or related biology courses who are seeking a practical understanding of phylogenetic analysis. It’s particularly valuable when you’re ready to move beyond theoretical concepts and apply computational tools to real-world biological data. Students preparing for lab work or needing a detailed walkthrough of molecular phylogeny techniques will find this especially helpful. Access to the full content will empower you to confidently tackle complex phylogenetic problems.
Topics Covered
* Molecular characters in phylogenetic analysis
* Utilizing online databases (NCBI) for sequence retrieval
* Sequence alignment techniques and their importance
* Phylogenetic tree construction using specialized software
* Interpreting molecular data in the context of evolutionary relationships
* Neutral mutations and their role in molecular evolution
* Applying phylogenetic hypotheses to real organisms
What This Document Provides
* A structured laboratory exercise with defined goals and objectives.
* Guidance on accessing and extracting DNA sequence information.
* An overview of software programs used in phylogenetic analysis (ClustalX and PAUP).
* A framework for creating a phylogenetic hypothesis based on molecular data.
* Instructions for a group project involving phylogenetic analysis of assigned organisms.
* A simulation component to illustrate molecular divergence.
