YOUR TASK:
The end result of this webquest will be the development of your very own digital cladogram. You will use GoogleDocs, Google Spreadsheet, Google Draw, and the internet to complete this assignment. In the end you will use your cladogram to make predictions about the traits of common ancestors.
You will have multiple levels of difficulty to choose from as you work through this webquest.
You will have multiple levels of difficulty to choose from as you work through this webquest.
- Darwin Level - This is the highest level of achievement and difficulty. This path leads to the highest possible score.
- Beagle Level - This is the intermediate path for those who don't feel like tackling Darwin level quite yet. High score still possible.
- Finch Level - This is the easiest nut to crack*. (*If you understand this reference you should probably go for Darwin Level)
key Questions:
- "Which living organism shares the closest common ancestor with humans?" - How does a cladogram help us answer questions like this?
- What role does observation and inference play in creating a cladogram?
- How can you use a cladogram to scientifically test your predictions?
- Can we predict the traits of a common ancestor that we have not seen?
- What does natural selection have to do with a cladogram?