Interpret a Phylogenetic Tree

Phylogenetics Lab

Part 3: Label Character States

Using the table below, complete the tree provided on your slides. Make sure to include all the character states at the base of the tree and the points of character state change. The presence and absence of the tail has been completed for you as an example.

Part 4: Interpret the Tree

Answer the following questions based on the tree that you have constructed in your slides.

Is the presence of a tail a shared-ancestral or a shared-derived trait of primates?

Is the absence of a tail a shared-ancestral or a shared-derived trait of hominoids (siamangs, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans)?

What trait (including character state) is a shared-derived trait of chimpanzees and humans?

Based on your phylogenetic tree, which trait (including character state) is a homoplasy? In which species did this trait independently evolve?

What two traits are uniquely derived? in which species?

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