Phylogenetics

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Description

Overview:: This activity lets learners participate in the process of reconstructing a phylogenetic tree and introduces them to several core bioinformatics concepts, particularly in relation to evolution. Groups of learners (at least 10) repeat a secret message (five to seven similar-sounding words) like the game "Telephone". In this version of the game, however, learners write and then code what they hear, creating a model of a phylogenetic tree and using a species distance matrix. This resource includes background information about phylogenetic trees, maximum parsimony, and matrix theory (see page 6-7 of PDF).

Subject:: Computer Science, Engineering, Information Science, Education, Life Science, Mathematics, Anthropology
Level:: Upper Primary, Middle School, High School
Material Type:: Activity/Lab, Game, Lesson Plan
Author:: Brian Mason Scientific and Technical Trust, Computer Science Unplugged, Google Inc., Jim Becker, Katrin Becker, Truman State University
Provider:: Computer Science Unplugged, Science and Math Informal Learning Educators (SMILE)
Provider Set:: Computer Science Unplugged, SMILE Pathway: Science and Math Activities in One Search
Date Added:: 01/02/2005

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