Lab 3: Lizard Evolution (Module 2)

Lab 3, Part B : Phylogenetic Trees
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of Lab 3, you should be able to:
1. Read and interpret phylogenetic trees
2. Understand how DNA sequences can be used to build trees
3. Explain and identify the difference between two types of mutations: SNPs and indels
4. Explain the evolution of the different ectomorphs in Anolislizards based on the analysis of phylogenetic trees
5. Provide an example of convergent evolution in Anolislizards.

This assignment is Lab 3, Part B: Lizard Evolution (Module 2). By the end of this lab, you should have completed two items: 1) upload of the Part B Progress page screenshot after completing Module 2 of Part B (upload the progress page to this assignment), and 2) Upload of the Part B Lizard Evolution worksheet (also to this assignment).

NOTE: It may be helpful to first do this assignment: Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree" questions (7/26).

Part B: Lizard Evolution (Module 2)

Scientists have studied the ecology and evolutionary relationships of several species of Anolislizards on the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The species differ in physical body traits, the habitat they occupy, as well as the specific island on which they are found.

Go to the HHMI Lizard Evolution Virtual Lab (Links to an external site.). Module 1 of this virtual Lab has students assign eight species of lizards to four ecomorphs based upon the habitat in which they live and their physical traits. These eight species reside on either Jamaica or Hispaniola. You are not doing Module 1 (unless you want) so a table of the Modlue 1 results is shown below. Each colored row in the table represents one of the four ecomorphs.
 
You will complete Module 2 of the HHMI Lizard Evolution Virtual Lab (Links to an external site.), where you will determine the evolutionary relationships between these eight lizards based on DNA sequences and then answer questions about how and where the different species evolved.
Module 2 will explain how to determine relatedness based upon branching patterns. Then you will determine if the branching patterns of the tree better reflect either
1) that lizards with the same ecomorph are more closely related regardless of where they live OR
2) lizards from the same island are more closely related compared to lizards on other islands, regardless of ecotype.
Your conclusion based on the phylogenetic tree analysis will help answer the question posed in the introductory video:
• Did the different ecomorphs of lizards evolve once and then spread to the islands or did they evolve separately on the different islands?

Instructions for Part B
1. Use the link below to go to the HHMI Lizard Evolution Virtual Lab (Links to an external site.).
2. Click on ‘Module 2: Phylogeny’ in the top left corner.
3. Watch the introductory video and click continue to proceed through the module.
4. NOTE -when you get to the screen with the DNA sequences, you do not need to copy and paste the sequences to the MABL site…they will do this for you and create a phylogenetic tree on the next slide.
5. At the end of Module 2 you will reach a screen that says “Module 2 Conclusion.”
- IMPORTANT – before closing this page, click the green ‘Progress’ tab at the top. Fill in your name and take a screen shot of the screen or print it as a pdf so you can submit the screenshot or pdf of your progress by uploading it to this assignment. The upload should indicate that you completed Module 2. (35 points)
6. To finish, please complete the pdf worksheet entitled ‘Lab 2 Part B fillable worksheet Lizard_evolution.pdf  download’ (35 points). Submit the completed worksheet to this assignment. Altogether, you are uploading two files to this assignment entry.