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ACTIVITY: The Tree of Life Infographic

Purpose

This activity will give you practice with interpreting infographics and will also support your understanding of the similarities and differences between humans and other species.
Download the PDF of The Tree of Life Infographic.
Tree of Life Infographic

Process

Download the Tree of Life Worksheet and use the infographic to answer the following questions:
Locate the species listed below on the infographic, and determine each one’s domain:
  • brown rat
  • zebrafish
  • Giardia lamblia
  • Salmonella typhi
  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Streptomyces coelicolor
  • Streptococcus mutans
  • Methanosarcina acetivorans
1. Which domain is probably the largest?
2. What are the major differences between each of the domains?
3. What is LUCA?
4. What species is our closest relative?
5. Did we branch off the taxonomic tree from our closest relative or did we develop separately from each other? What does this tell you about our relationship?
6. Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes both branched off from what type of animal?
7. What are the taxonomic similarities between the following species: Pan troglodytes, Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus?

For Further Discussion

In the Questions Area below, answer one of the questions above. Then, see if you agree or disagree with someone else’s answer to one of the questions that you did NOT respond to, and then share why you agree or disagree.
Once you've finished completing the activity, feel free to check your answers by downloading the answer key.

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