Name:
Evidence of Evolution
Period:
Date:
DNA Evidence
Cytochrome-c is a protein found in the mitochondria that is used in cellular respiration. This protein
consists of a chain of 104 amino acids. The chart below shows the amino acid sequence for
cytochrome-c of five vertebrates.
Animal
Horse
Shark
Human
Turtle
Monkey
Amino Acid Sequences in Cytochrome-C
gln
gln
gln
gln
gln
pro
gln
pro
glu
pro
phe
phe
tyr
phe
tyr
thr
ser
ser
ser
ser
thr
thr
thr
thr
thr
ala
asp
ala
glu
ala
lys
lys
lys
lys
lys
asn
ser
asn
asn
asn
lys
lys
lys
lys
lys
thr
thr
ile
thr
thr
lys
gln
gly
gly
gly
glu
gln
glu
glu
glu
glu
glu
asp
asp
asp
thr
thr
thr
thr
thr
leu
leu
leu
leu
leu
met
arg
met
met
met
glu
ile
glu
glu
glu
lys
lys
lys
asp
lys
ala
thr
ala
ala
ala
thr
ala
thr
thr
thr
asn
ala
asn
ser
asn
glu
ser
glu
lys
glu
1. Compare the amino acid sequence of human cytochrome-c with that of the other four
vertebrates.


For each vertebrate, count the number of amino acids that differ from those in the human.
Write the number in the data table.

Using the amino acid differences,
which organism is most closely related to humans?

Using the amino acid differences,
which organism is least closely related to humans?
2. Based on the data, list the order in which these vertebrates are related to humans using the
data table. Place the vertebrates more similar to humans in sequence from the top.
RISD Curriculum & Instruction
2012-2013
Name:
Evidence of Evolution
Period:
Homologous Structures
Procedure:
1. Color the homologous bones below according to
the color scheme below:





Green = humerus
Red = radius
Blue = ulna
Yellow = metacarpals
Purple = phalanges
1. Do homologous structures have the same function
in different organisms?
2. What do homologous structures have in common?
3. How does the existence of homologous structures
support the theory of evolution?
RISD Curriculum & Instruction
2012-2013
Date:
Name:
Evidence of Evolution
Period:
Date:
Phylogenetic Trees
A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that depicts the lines of evolutionary descent of different species,
organisms, or genes from a common ancestor. The trees have branches, the length of which is
proportional to the hypothesized time between the divergence of the organisms. Each node at the
fork represents a common ancestor.
1. Look at organisms B, C, and D. These are organisms that can be found in present time.
Sequence the common ancestors shown from oldest to most current.
2. Look at organisms B and C. They share three common ancestors, X, A, and Z.
How many common ancestors do organisms D and B share?
3. Which of the present day organisms are the most closely related?
RISD Curriculum & Instruction
2012-2013
Name:
Evidence of Evolution
Period:
Date:
Cladograms
What is a cladogram? It is a diagram that depicts evolutionary relationships among groups. It
is based on phylogeny, which is the study of evolutionary relationships.
Cladistics form of analysis that looks at features of organisms that are considered
"innovations", or newer features that serve some kind of purpose. (Think about what the word
"innovation" means in regular language.) These characteristics appear in later organisms but
not earlier ones and are called derived characters.
1. Examine the sample cladogram, each letter on the diagram points to a derived character, or
something different (or newer) than what was seen in previous groups. Match the letter to its
character on your student data sheet. Note: This cladogram was created for simplicity and
understanding, it does not represent the established phylogeny for insects and their relatives.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Wings
6 Legs
Segmented Body
Double set of wings
Jumping Legs
Crushing Mouthparts
Legs
Curly Antennae
2. To make a cladogram, you must first look at the animals you are studying and establish
characteristics that they share and ones that are unique to each group. For the animals on the table,
indicate whether the characteristic is present or not.
Cells
Backbone
Legs
Hair
Slug (snail)
Catfish
Frog
Tiger
Human
RISD Curriculum & Instruction
2012-2013
Opposable Thumbs
Name:
Evidence of Evolution
Period:
Date:
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species across the globe. Scientists refer to
biogeography as evidence of evolution. Species that developed from a common ancestor
are usually found geographically near each other.
Procedure:
1. Compare the appearance of the six penguins. Record your observations in the data table on
your student handout.
2. Write the letter for each penguin on the map according to their given latitude and longitude.
3. Answer the questions that follow on your student data sheet.
Penguin
Distinguishing Characteristics
African penguin
Galapagos penguin
Humboldt penguin
Chinstrap penguin
Adelie penguin
Gentoo penguin
RISD Curriculum & Instruction
2012-2013
Most similar to:
Name:
Evidence of Evolution
Period:
Date:
A. African penguin (35°S, 25°E)
D. Chinstrap Penguin (180°W, 80°S)
B. Galapagos penguin (10°S, 90°W)
E. Adelie Penguin (120°E, 65°S)
C. Humboldt penguin (75°W, 15°S)
F. Gentoo Penguin (30°E, 70°S)
RISD Curriculum & Instruction
2012-2013