LABORATORY FINAL BOTANY 306 SPRING, 1999

Molecular Systematics & Phylogenetics (20 pts.)

 

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2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Taxon1

T

G

T

C

G

C

G

C

T

A

T

T

G

G

T

A

T

C

C

T

Taxon2

A

G

T

C

A

G

G

C

A

A

T

T

G

T

G

A

T

C

A

T

Taxon3

A

G

T

C

A

G

A

C

T

A

T

T

G

T

T

A

T

C

A

T

Taxon4

T

G

T

C

A

C

G

C

T

A

T

T

G

G

T

A

T

C

C

T

Taxon5

A

G

T

C

A

G

G

G

T

A

T

G

G

T

T

A

T

C

C

A

Taxon6

A

G

T

C

G

G

G

C

T

T

T

G

G

T

T

A

T

C

C

A

Taxon7

A

G

T

C

A

G

A

C

T

A

T

T

G

T

T

A

T

C

A

T

Taxon8

T

G

T

C

A

G

G

C

T

A

A

T

G

G

G

A

T

C

C

T

Outgroup

A

G

T

C

A

G

G

C

T

A

T

T

G

G

T

A

T

C

C

T

Shown above is part of a data matrix for nine taxa for the gene rbcL. As you recall, this gene is over 1400 nucleotides in length, but for simplicity, only a small portion near the middle of the gene is illustrated. For questions 3 thru 13, it will be helpful for you to map character-state changes onto the tree.

  1. Give an example of a character (1 pt.)
  2. Give an example of a character-state (1 pt.)
  3. Using the cladogram below, give an example of an autapomorphy (1 pt.)
  4. Using the cladogram below, give an example of a plesiomorphy (1 pt.)
  5. Using the cladogram below, give an example of a synapomorphy (1 pt.)
  6. Using the cladogram below, give an example of homoplasy (1 pt.)
  7. What is the most likely taxonomic rank of the taxa included in this example? (1 pt)
  8. How did you arrive at the answer you gave in question number 7? (2 pts.)
  9. Name two limitations of morphological data relative to molecular sequence data (2 pts.)
  10. How is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) important in molecular systematics? (2 pts.)
  11. What steps would be involved in analyzing the above data matrix phenetically? (3 pts.)
  12. Name one important conclusion from the assigned rbcL sequencing paper? (2 pts.)
  13. Give an example of a paraphyletic group based on the cladogram below (2 pts.)

 

 

 

 

 

Nomenclature & Species Concepts (15 pts)

Background: The genus Yura, named by Hooker in 1838, has long been considered similar to the genus Ima L. (1753) and several species seem to bridge the gap between the two genera. One wide-ranging entity has posed considerable difficulty, with confusion about species boundaries and the number of species that should be recognized. A number of type specimens fall within the range of variation encompassed by this wide-ranging entity:

(1) If the type specimens for these names all refer to the same entity that you wish to recognize as a single species in the genus Yura, what is its correct name and how did you reach this nomenclatural decision? (3 pts.)

 

 

 

(2) After considerable study, you decide that the two genera should be merged into one. What then, becomes the name of the species under discussion? (2 pts.)

 

 

 

 

(3) Because plants from different parts of the continent (it is widespread from Mexico north to Canada and from California east to Maine) are usually distinct, you decide that it is appropriate to recognize two species in the genus Ima, a northern one and a southern one. Give the correct scientific name for both the northern and southern species (4 pts.)

Northern:

Southern:

(4) It seems that more study is needed to be sure of your interpretation that there are two distinct species. In fact, some have suggested that there really is only a single highly variable species with two varieties, a northern one and a southern one.
  1. Define two of the possible biological phenomena that may have contributed to the uncertainty regarding species boundaries (3 pts.).
  2. Name two different species concepts and how they might be experimentally evaluated to shed light on this situation (3 pts)

Short Answer (5 pts.)

  1. Describe the evolution of the angiosperm compound ovary from an ancestral pre-angiosperm with megasporophylls bearing marginal megasporangia. Your answer must include a definition and distinction between these terms: megasporophyll, carpel, locule, ovary, gynoecium, septum, ovule, placentation. Use diagrams if necessary (5 pts.).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plants & People (10 pts.)

The following items are used for food, fun, medicine, or in other ways. Give the family of the plant for the following, and as precisely as possible give the plant part used.

Item

Family

Plant Part

Fig Newtons

    

Dill, caraway, or fennel seed

    

The first blue jeans ever made

    

Cotton balls

    

Manihot esculenta

    

Cinnamon

    

Pardon me: do you have any Grey Poupon? [mustard]

    

Spinach souffle

    

Opium & heroin

    

Baseball bats

    

 

 

 

Required Taxa (50 pts)

1.

26.

2.

27.

3.

28.

4.

29.

5.

30.

6.

31.

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32.

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33.

9.

34.

10.

35.

11.

36.

12.

37.

13.

38.

14.

39.

15.

40.

16.

41.

17.

42.

18.

43.

19.

44.

20.

45.

21.

46.

22.

47.

23.

48.

24.

49.

25.

50.