BIOL 123: Evolution Virtual Lab 

Objectives: Following this lab you should be able to…

• Describe the key mechanisms by which evolution occurs.
• Explain the evidence for evolution via the fossil record, DNA, and biogeography.
• Describe specific examples of evolution case studies, such as the evolution of birds, whales, and humans.
• Discuss and describe human evolution.

Overview

• Exercise I. You will complete a virtual lab through NOVA on evolution. It has three parts followed by construction of phylogenic trees. You will submit four pictures of you working through each exercise and the results of your tree construction in the post-lab.

• Exercise II. You will watch a 19-minute long movie called, Great Transitions: The Origin of Humans. You will create a table of human hominids mentioned in the movie along with important notes in the post-lab.

• Exercise III. You will watch a TedTalk of your choice on evolution. You will share your thoughts in a short essay reflection in the post-lab.​

ustrate the evolutionary relationships between Australopithecus and early Hominid fossils by comparing fossil evidence.
You will first need to create a coded character matrix from the character matrix below. Then construct a phylogenetic tree to illustrate the relationships among these taxa.
Submit a Word document with the following:

• Coded character Matrix (10 pts): Must be a table create in Word or pasted from Excel.
• Phylogeny (15 pts): The phylogeny can be a picture of your hand-drawn tree pasted into the word document or drawn using any other program or software you choose.  

Use the character matrix below for this exercise:



 LINK to document.
 
Images of these specimens can be found here:
Fossil Evidence in 3D: http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/projects/human/
Smithsonian Institutions 3D Fossil and Artifact Collection: http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/3d-collection
Bone Clones catalog: http://www.boneclones.com/catalog-fossil-hominids.htm 
 
Adapted from: Andrew J Petto, National Center for Science Education @ https://ncse.ngo/files/pub/evolution/a_garhi_lesson.pdf
Referneces:
Features for A garhi based on Asfaw and others, 1999
Asfaw B, White T, Lovejoy O, Latimer B, Simpson S, Suwa G. Australopithecus garhi: a new species of early hominid from Ethiopia. Science 1999; 284:629-5. Groves C. 1999. Australopithecus garhi: A New-Found Link? Reports of the National Center for Science Education 19(3): 10–13. http://ncse.com/rncse/19/3/australopithecus-garhi-new-found-link

Before you begin! Open the Evolution Post-Lab. 
Follow the directions in each exercise closely so you know what to put in your Post-Lab to receive full credit for this online activity.​

• Exercise I
• Exercise II
• Exercise III

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You will be completing an evolution virtual lab through NOVA LABS. You must complete four parts of this virtual lab.

1. Introduction to Evolution. Click the Introduction to evolution tab.Watch the video, answer the questions and take notes in the space they provide. The final screen is shown in the sidebar. Take a selfie next to this screen.
2. DNA and Evolution. Click the “CONTINUE” button to proceed to Exercise III. Again, watch the video, answer the questions and take notes in the space they provide. Take a selfie next to the final screen.
3. Evidence for Evolution. Click the “CONTINUE” button to proceed to the next activity. Again, watch the video, answer the questions and take notes in the space they provide. Take a selfie next to the final screen.
4. Play Game. This “game” will take you through construction of two groups of phylogenetic trees. When you get stuck, be sure to click the magnifying glass at the bottom right. You must complete the first and second “Missions.” Once you’ve completed both, take a selfie next to the final screen showing Mission 1 and Mission 2 as complete.

The final page looks like this. Note the continue button.

Final page for selfie showing completed Mission 1 & 2.

1. Watch this 19-minute long movie called, Great Transitions: The Origin of Humans.
2. Take notes throughout, paying close attention to: the name of each hominid discussed, the scientist who made the discovery, the age, and any related human characteristics. 
3. You will be asked to put all this information into a table in the post lab.

1. Please visit this page on Evolution Based TedTalks.  (https://www.ted.com/playlists/84/ancient_clues)
2. You will find 6 different TedTalks about evolution and the origin of humans. Please select one to watch based on your interests!
3. You will complete a reflection on your TedTalk in the post lab.