Construction of Phylogenetic Trees in a Non-Majors Biology Laboratory as a Means of Teaching Biodiversity

 

Brian M. Forster, Charleen M. Baker, Darine El-Naccache, & Clint J. Springer

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2015, Volume 36

Supplemental Materials:

Abstract

One of the challenges in teaching biology to non-science majors is the topic of biodiversity. Students try to remember facts about each organism, major division or phyla presented to them. They do not try to make connections and see evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms. We have developed a laboratory exercise where students complete a phylogenetic tree encompassing the organisms they encounter in class. In this workshop, participants will work through trying to complete the missing components of the tree. Discussion of how an assignment of this nature can be adapted to any biology course will also be addressed.

Keywords:  Biodiversity, non-science majors, phylogenetic tree

University of Oregon (2014)