... for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press's Reprints and Permissions web page, www.ucpress.edu/journals.php?p=reprints . 2018 comparative morphology dichotomous key parsimony phylogenetic trees synapomorphy tree thinking 18S small subunit...

... matrix and cladogram of dragons followed by repetition of this process via conventional computer software allows the students to track their progress not only in terms of understanding such concepts as choice of character states and parsimony but also in terms of the applicability of said software. ©...

... cladogram phylogenetic tree common ancestor parsimony First of all, let us clarify the definitions of “cladogram” and associated terms. Scientific words have specific meanings, and when these are muddled by careless usage, teaching and learning are hindered. Baum and Offner (2008) rather...

..., determine polarity through outgroup comparison, and construct a parsimonious tree based on synapomorphies (shared derived characters). This activity efficiently demonstrates many systematics concepts, including homology, homoplasy (convergence and reversal), polarity, synapomorphy, symplesiomorphy...

...Declan J. McCabe This exercise demonstrates the principle of parsimony in constructing cladograms. Although it is designed using mammalian cranial characters, the activity could be adapted for characters from any group of organisms. Students score categorical traits on skulls and record the data...

..., a collection of primate skulls, or a collection of hominid skulls. 2 e-mail: wfrankli@brynmawr.edu . © 2010 by National Association of Biology Teachers 2010 Evolution phylogenetic analysis student inquiry parsimony convergence “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light...