Pre-Lab Questions
- Use the following classifications to determine which organism is least related out of the three. Explain your rationale.
Table 2: Classifications |
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Classification Level |
American Green Tree Frog |
European Fire- Bellied Toad |
Eastern Newt |
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Domain |
Eukarya |
Eukarya |
Eukarya |
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Kingdom |
Animalia |
Animalia |
Animalia |
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Phylum |
Chordata |
Chordata |
Chordata |
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Class |
Amphibia |
Amphibia |
Amphibia |
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Order |
Anura |
Anura |
Caudata |
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Family |
Hylidae |
Bombinatoridae |
Salamandridae |
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Genus |
Tursipops |
Bombina |
Notophthalmus |
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Species |
cinerea |
bombina |
viridescens |
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- How has DNA sequencing affected the science of classifying organisms?
- You are on vacation and see an organism that you do not recognize. Discuss what possible steps you can take to classify it.
Exercise 1: Dichotomous Key Practice
Table 3: Dichotomous Key Results |
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Organism |
Binomial Name |
i |
|
ii |
|
iii |
|
iv |
|
v |
|
vi |
|
vii |
|
viii |
|
ix |
|
x |
|
xi |
|
xii |
|
xiii |
|
Post-Lab Questions
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What do you notice about the options of each step as they go from number one up?
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How does your answer from Question 1 relate to the Linnaean classification system?
Exercise 2: Classification of Organisms
Data Tables and Post-Lab Assessment
Table 2: Key Characteristics of Some Organisms
Organism |
Kingdom |
Domain |
Defined Nucleus |
Motile |
Cell Wall |
Photosynthesis |
Unicellular |
E. coli |
|
|
|
|
Yes |
|
Yes |
Protozoa |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Yes |
Mushroom |
|
|
Yes |
|
Yes |
|
|
Sunflower |
|
|
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Bear |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
Figure 4:Exercise 2 – Classification of Organisms Flow Chart |
Post-Lab Questions
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Did this series of questions correctly organize each organism? Why or why not?
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What additional questions would you ask to further categorize the items within the kingdoms (Hint: think about other organisms in each of the kingdoms and what makes them different than the examples used here)?
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What questions would you have asked instead of the ones that you answered above when classifying the organisms?