LAB THREE Bio 102

Pre-Lab Questions Use the following classifications to determine which organism is least related out of the three. Explain your rationale. The Eastern Newt is the least related organism out of the three. While all three are classified into the same domain, kingdom, phylum and class the Eastern Newt is in a different order than the American Green Tree Frog and the European Fire-Bellied Toad. Classifications Classification Level American Green Tree Frog European Fire-Bellied Toad Eastern Newt Domain Eukarya Eukarya Eukarya Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia Phylum Chordata Chordata Chordata Class Amphibia Amphibia Amphibia Order Anura Anura Caudata Family Hylidae Bombinatoridae Salamandridae Genus Tursipops Bombina Notophthalamus Species Cinera bombina viridescens How has DNA sequencing affected the science of classifying organisms? DNA sequencing has allowed for the comparison of genes at the molecular level as opposed to physical traits at the organism level. Physical traits can be misleading when classifying how related two organisms are. DNA sequencing can also trace relatedness through generations and more accurately assess how closely related two organisms are. You are on vacation and see an organism that you do not recognize. Discuss what possible steps you can take to classify it. The organism’s physical features can be used to compare it to known organisms. Some physiological features can even possibly be used to help classify it. Experiment 1: Dichotomous Key Practice Result Tables Table 2: Dichotomous Key Results Organism Binomial Name i Selasphorus platycercus ii Mus Musculus iii Vaccinium Oxycoccos iv Ramphastos Vitellinus v Quercus Abla vi Evathlus smithi vii Helix aspersa viii Taeniopygia guttata ix Lonicera japonica x Carduelis Tristis xi Oryctes nasicornis xii Taeniopyga guttata xiii Musa acuminata Post-Lab Questions What do you notice about the options at each step as they go from number one up? How does your answer from Question 1 relate to the Linnaean classification system? The dichotomous key options became more and more specific as they came closer to identifying the organism just like the classification system starts as a broad category and becomes more specific until a unique species is classified Experiment 2: Classifications of Organisms Result Tables Table 3: Classifications Organism Domain Kingdom Defined Nucleus Motile Cell Wall Photosynthesis Unicellular E. Coli Bacteria no yes Yes no Yes Protozoa Eukarya Protista Yes Yes No no Yes Mushroom Eukarya Fungi Yes no Yes no no Sunflower Eukarya Plantae Yes No Yes Yes no Bear Eukarya Animalia Yes Yes no no no Post-Lab Questions Did this series of questions correctly organize each organism? Why or why not? Yes, the series of questions did correctly organize each organism. What additional questions would you ask to further categorize the organisms within the kingdoms (Hint: think about other organisms in the kingdom and what makes them different than the examples used here)? Additional questions I would have asked when classifying the organism is for instance how do they reproduce? Do you feel that the questions asked were appropriate? What questions would you have asked?