This is an activity where students examine the evolutionary relationships between 5 primates: human, chimpanzee, orangutan, gorilla, and gibbon. To determine the relationships students examine the DNA sequence of a single gene found in all 5 species. The DNA strips aren’t the real sequences, but they are based on real DNA match percentages. Students determine the percent base pair matches between each primate and human. They then construct a cladogram (a type of phylogentic tree) to show the the evolutionary relationships among the 5 primates. Watch the slide show on how to do the activity and download the student handout and DNA strips.
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