The Evolution Lab

NAME:

Introduction
DATE:

EVOLUTION 101
You are about to play NOVAs Evolution Laba game that will help you to understand the ways scientists piece
together the tree of life. But before you begin Mission 1, Training Trees, watch the introductory video, Evolution
101, and answer questions 15 below.
1. According to the video, what are the two key ingredients to natural selection?
a. Predation and the environment
b. Reproduction and predation
c. Reproduction and variation
d. The environment and variation
2. What does the fittest mean in an evolutionary sense?
a. The strongest
b. The longest lived
c. The most reproductively successful
d. The best able to avoid being eaten
3. Evolution is:
a. Fixed in one direction
b. Completely random
c. Neither entirely fixed nor entirely random
4. What is happening in this image? How does it help to illustrate the concept of natural selection?

5. According to the video, what is the goal of the tree of life?

a. To summarize the fossil record
b. To describe how natural selection works
c. To be a library of all life that has ever lived
d. To explain how all species are related to each other

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 1

MISSION 1 Training Trees

Introductory video: Watch the video to learn some tree basics and to get an overview for how the Build A Tree
game works. Each level tasks you with building a phylogenetic treea small piece of the overall tree of life. A
phylogenetic tree is a model of evolutionary relationships. Before you start the first level, Red, green, and gecko,
use the tree below and the information in the introductory video to answer questions 15.
1. What does the circled node represent?
a. The common ancestor species of A and B
b. A speciation event
c. Both a and b

B
trait 4

branch tips

trait 5

trait 2

2. Which way does time run on this tree?

a. From root to branch tip
b. Across branch tips, from left to right

trait 3

trait 1

root

3. Which lived more recently in time, the common ancestor species of A and B or the common ancestor
species of B and C?

4. Which traits do A and B share? Which traits do B and C share?

A and B:
B and C:
Use your answers to questions 3 and 4 to explain why B and C are more closely related to each other than A
and C are.

5. There is more than one correct way to show relationships using a phylogenetic tree. Which of these
trees shows the same exact relationships as the tree above? You may circle more than one.
A

B
C

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 1

Red, green, and gecko: Your first question is simple: Is a fungus more closely related to an animal or a plant? At first
glance, many people might be tempted to say plantbut be careful! First impressions can be misleading.
In this level, be sure to read and follow the prompts. The prompts are there to help you get the hang of things. When
youre done, answer questions 69 below before you move on to the next level, Familiar faces.
6. Under a microscope, the cells of mushrooms, plants, and animals all have visible nuclei. This makes
them all:
a. Autotrophs
b. Heterotrophs
c. Eukaryotic
d. Prokaryotic
7. What trait do the mushroom and gecko share that the tree lacks?

8. Draw your completed tree and an equivalent tree in the boxes provided. Equivalent trees look different
from each other but show the same relationships. See question 5 from the introduction section for
examples of equivalent trees.
Completed Tree

Equivalent Tree

9. The pop-up question at the end of this level asks whether an animal or a plant is more closely related
to a fungus. Why is the correct answer likely surprising to many people?

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 1

Familiar faces: Lets take a look at some common animalsa dog, goldfish, snake, and stick insect. Think you know
which ones share the most traits? Answer questions 1011 below before you move on to the next level, Tree of life:
Vegetarian edition.
10. What is an amniote, and which animals on this tree are amniotes?

rest of tree
dog

11. If you were to add a cat onto this tree, it would be placed
so that the cat and dog are more closely related to each
other than to anything else in the tree, as shown.
What biological trait could you use in the spot that is marked?

cat

trait

Tree of life: Vegetarian edition: We often use the terms fruit and vegetable to describe the plants we eat; however,
not many people know the real difference between them. If youre a botanist, a fruit isnt something sweet and
deliciousits the part of some plants that contains the seeds. This makes things like tomatoes, nuts, and squash
fruits, technically! Any other part of a plant that we eat is called a vegetable. Some vegetables are roots, like carrots,
and others are stems or leaves, like celery and lettuces.
Being an animal yourself, its often easy to overlook plants and their many interesting traits. In this level, youll gain a
new appreciation for some of the plants we eat. Things are getting more challenging now, so be sure to use the
species and species compare tabs! Answer questions 1213 before you move on to Mission 2, FossilsRocking
the Earth.
12. What makes the seaweed different from all the other plants on this tree?
a. It has leaves.
b. Its a vegetable.
c. It uses spores to reproduce.
d. It is a photosynthetic autotroph.
13. The pop-up question at the end of this level asks whether a banana is more closely related to a lemon
or an onion. Why might the correct answer be surprising to many people?

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 2

MISSION 2 Fossils: Rocking the Earth

Introductory video: Fossils provide us with a historical record of life on Earth. There are many types of fossils, from
extraordinary unaltered remains trapped in permafrost or amber, to subtle traces of past activities in the form of
footprints and burrows. The fossils that we have found provide windows into the past and direct evidence of
evolution. Before you start the first level in this mission, Eating dinosaurs for dinner, watch the introductory video
and answer questions 12 below.
1. If these rock layers have been undisturbed, which layer is the oldest? Which layer is the youngest?
Mark your answer on the figure.

2. According to the video, fossils provide each of the following except:

a. Examples of transitional species
b. A complete record of past life on Earth
c. Physical proof of extinction and speciation
d. Evidence that evolutionary change tends to be gradual

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 2

Eating dinosaurs for dinner: Has anyone ever told you that dinosaurs arent extinct? Its true! They arent. But how
can that be? There are no T. rexes at the zoo, or Triceratopses roaming the plains. This level holds the key to
understanding where todays dinosaurs are hidingon our farms, in the trees, and on our dinner plates. Answer
questions 35 below before you move on to the next level, One small step.
3. What is another name for the wishbone?
a. Furcula
b. Lucky bone
c. Shoulder blade
d. Sternum
4. Today, its widely accepted that all of the two-legged meat-eating dinosaurs known as theropods
including T. rex and Albertosaurushad at least very simple fuzzy feathers covering their bodies.
According to the tree you built, what distinguishes the feathers of modern birds and Archaeopteryx
from the feathers of other theropods?
a. Barbs
b. Fibers
c. Filaments
5
d. Shafts
3

Imagine that you have a pair of scissors and can cut the tree.
You can tell a group is a clade because it would only take one
snip to make the group fall off the tree. Five different clades
have been marked on the tree with brackets.
The clade marked 1 is clade Avesthe birds.
The clade marked 2 is clade Theropodathe theropods.
Clades 2 and 3 are the two major groups of
dinosaursclade Saurischia and clade Ornithischia.
Finally, clade 5 is clade Dinosauriathe dinosaurs.

Living birds

Archaeopteryx

T. rex

Apatosaurus

Triceratops

5. A clade is a fancy word for any group in a phylogenetic

tree that includes an ancestor and all of its descendants.
A simplified dinosaur tree is to the right.

a. Mark on the tree using numbers 24 where you can snip off each clade. Numbers 1 and 5 have
been done for you.
b. Triceratops belongs to two of the marked clades on this tree: 4 and 5. This means that Triceratops
is both an ornithischian (clade 4) and a dinosaur (clade 5). Which clades do birds belong to?
c.

Use your answer to part b to explain why birds are dinosaurs.

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 2

One small step: There have been a number of dramatic transitions over the history of life. After a few billion years of
nothing but single-celled organisms, multicellular life developed. Organisms evolved tissues and organs. Plants
developed spores, flowers, and seeds. Animals developed complex neurological systems and external and internal
skeletons. And, of course, bacteria evolved novel methods to live just about everywhere on Earth.
One of these great transitions is the subject of this level. Have you ever heard of an animal called Tiktaalik? How
about Acanthostega? They are but two of the many remarkable fossils we have that document the transition of animal
life from water to land. Answer questions 69 below before you move on to the next level, Origin of whales.
6. For an animal that lives in shallow water, what is the advantage of having eyes on the top of its head?

7. We know that Tiktaalik is more closely related to Acanthostega than it is to Eusthenopteron because
Tiktaalik and Acanthostega:
a. Both lacked digits
b. Both lacked strong forearms
c. Both had a humerus, radius, and ulna
d. Both had eyes on the top of their heads
8. Ichthyostega is a 370-million-year-old fossil from Greenland.
Ichthyostega had digits, eyes on the top of its head, and
strong, armlike bones. It also had no gills and a reduced
tailtraits it had in common with Tulerpeton. Acanthostega,
Eusthenopteron, and Tiktaalik all had gills and full tails.
Use the abbreviations provided to draw a phylogenetic tree
that includes Ichthyostega.
A = Acanthostega
E = Eusthenopteron
I = Ichthyostega
Tu = Tulerpeton
Ti = Tiktaalik

D = digits
E = eyes on top of a flat head
G/T = loss of gills and a reduced
tail
S = strong, armlike bones

9. Animals commonly called reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals are all tetrapodsa term that
means four feet. The transition from water to land is fascinating to scientists in part because its our
historythe transition documents the evolution of tetrapods, and humans are tetrapods.
Tetrapods form a clade. Which of the following is true of tetrapods?
a. Tetrapods are more complex than non-tetrapods.
b. Tetrapods are more evolved than non-tetrapods.
c. Tetrapods are more closely related to each other than to non-tetrapods.
d. All of the above

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 2

Origin of whales: In the previous level, you looked at the transition from water to land and the evolution of tetrapods.
Several groups of tetrapods went on to make the reverse tripthey headed back to the water.
In this level, youll put together a tree that summarizes some of the changes that occurred as a group of mammals,
closely related to the modern-day hippopotamus, returned to the sea. Answer questions 1012 below before you
move on to Mission 3, DNA Spells Evolution.
10. When did whale ancestors begin living full time in the water?
a. After they nursed under water
b. After they lost their hind legs
c. Before they evolved gills
d. Before they began eating a carnivorous diet
11. Whales are tetrapodsbut living whales do not have four limbs. What is a more accurate way to
describe tetrapods?
a. Animals that have at least two limbs
b. Animals that descended from a four-limbed ancestor
c. Animals that have four limbs at some point in their lives
d. Animals that evolved the ability to survive without limbs
12. When two groups of organisms independently evolve similar adaptations, its called convergent
evolution. Sharks and whales both have streamlined bodies and tail flukes. How do we know that
these similarities are because of convergent evolution? Hint: Whales are tetrapods. Are sharks?

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 3

MISSION 3 DNA Spells Evolution

Introductory video: Since its discovery in 1953, DNA has revolutionized the study of evolutionary relationships.
Darwin didnt know about DNA. He couldnt explain how traits were passed from one generation to the nexthe just
knew that they were. Were Darwin alive today, hed no doubt be astonished at how much we can learn about the
natural world without even leaving the lab. Before you start the first level in this mission, Frog legs and fish eggs,
watch the introductory video and answer questions 15 below.
1. For a mutation to affect evolution, it must:
a. Provide a benefit to the organism
b. Involve more than one chromosome
c. Be able to get passed from parent or offspring
d. Be neutralneither help nor harm the organism
2. What is evolution?
a. An increase in complexity over time
b. The tendency of species to improve over time
c. Any change to the genetic composition of a population
d. All of the above
3. An organism that is closely related to the group youre interested in, but not a part of it. A way to
establish a basis of comparison for an trait analysis. This is a definition of:
a. An ancestor
b. A marker
c. An outgroup
d. A stem group
4. When you compare the DNA of two closely related organisms, would you expect their DNA to be more
similar or less similar than the DNA of two distantly related organisms? Explain your answer.

5. Fossils almost never contain DNA. So how can we know how closely or distantly related fossil
organisms are to living organisms?

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 3

Frog legs and fish eggs: When scientists compare DNA, there are usually thousands upon thousandsor even
millionsof nucleotide bases involved. A computer then scans the sequences and aligns them in the way that
provides the best match. In some cases, the computer will add blank spaces to improve alignment. Such spaces
represent nucleotides that were added or deleted as opposed to changed in one or more lineages.
In this level, youll get the hang of analyzing DNA by looking at a tiny 4-base snippet. A dash () represents either a
blank space added to improve alignment or a position that is not important for the analysis youve been asked to do.
To make things easier, the information from the species compare tab is shown below. However, dont forget to read
the species tabsthey might help you. Answer questions 67 below before moving on to the next mission, One fish,
two fish, red fish, lungfish.
position

Midas cichlid (outgroup)

W. Indian coelacanth
Western clawed frog

C
C
C

C
T
T

6. Draw your completed tree and an equivalent tree in the boxes provided.
Completed Tree

Equivalent Tree

7. True or false: The change from a T to a C at position 3 caused all of the changes that exist between
the cichlid and coelacanth/frog. Explain your answer.

10

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 3

One fish, two fish, red fish, lungfish: For a long time, scientists though that coelacanths were the closest living
relatives to amphibians. Coelacanths have big fleshy fins and hinged jaws, two traits they share with fossils of
ancestral amphibians. When they went to analyze the DNA, however, they got a surprise. Take a look at the data
yourself and see what you come up with. Answer questions 810 below before you move on to the next level, Where
the tiny wild things are.
position

10

Great white shark (outgroup)

Midas cichlid
S. American lungfish
W. Indian coelacanth
Western clawed frog

C
C
T
T
T

C
C
C
C
C

T
C
C
C
C

T
T

A
T
A

8. Does the DNA support the hypothesis that the coelacanth is the closest living relative to amphibians,
such as frogs? If it does, explain how. If it does not, provide an alternative hypothesis suggested by
the DNA data.

9. Which do you consider more convincing evidence, DNA or physical features? Why?

10. To which organism(s) on the tree is the coelacanth most closely related?
a. Frog
b. Lungfish
c. Cichlid and shark equally
d. Frog and lungfish equally

11

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 3

Where the tiny wild things are: Even with a microscope, most people cant tell the difference between an archaea
and a bacterium. Crack open their DNA, however, and the differences become pretty obviousand you dont even
need a microscope, just a computer to crunch the data. Weve kept things pretty simple in this level, though, so youll
only need your eyes and some brainpower. There is no outgroup on this level, so pay extra attention to the
comparison data provided. Answer questions 1114 below before you move on to the next mission, Biogeography
Where Life Lives.
position

A. vinosum
D. radiodurans
M. acetivorans
P. aerophilium
S. solfataricus
T. thermophilus

G
G
G
G
G
G

T
G
C
C
C

T
C
A
G
A
C

10 11 12 13

14 15

T
T
G
C
C
T

11. What distinguishes bacteria from archaea?

a. All archaea live in extreme environments, and bacteria do not.
b. All archaea are unicellular, and some bacteria are multicellular.
c. Archaean DNA is made up a different set of nucleotide bases than is bacterial DNA.
d. Archaean cell walls are made up of different compounds than are bacterial cell walls.
12. A. vinosum is most closely related to which organism(s)?

13. Can you tell from this tree whether a C at position 15 evolved before or after a T at position 15?
Explain your answer.

14. The pop-up question at the end of this level asks why examining DNA is better than considering
physical traits. However, remember that its not always possible. When do you have to rely on
physical traits instead of DNA?

12

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 4

MISSION 4 Biogeography: Where Life Lives

Introductory video: Life does not stay in one place. Organisms spread out and move around. Plant seeds and
fungal spores are carried by the wind and animals cover great distances in search of food. And bacteria? Well,
bacteria are just everywhere. But it isnt just organisms that movethe planets tectonic plates move, too. The goal of
biogeography is to piece together all of these movements to discover and explain the past and present distribution
of life on Earth. Its a big puzzle with as many moving pieces as there are species that have ever lived. Before you
start the first level in this mission, Saving Hawaiian treasure, watch the introductory video and answer Questions 1
4 below.
1. How do organisms come to live on newly formed volcanic islands?

2. The Galpagos finches are an example of an array of species that:

a. Migrated to an island as a group
b. Evolved from a single island species
c. Interbred to form one new island species
d. Each independently migrated to an island
3. What is Pangaea?
a. An island in Hawaii
b. An ancient supercontinent
c. A species of Hawaiian honeycreeper
d. An ancient common ancestor of birds
4. Explain how a close relative of an African plant came to be living in the tropical Pacific.

13

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 4

Saving Hawaiian treasure: You have more than likely heard about the famous Galpagos finches and how they help
to illustrate a common pattern in evolution. You may not be as familiar with the honeycreepers of Hawaii, but their
story is remarkably similar. In this level, you will again use DNA evidence to piece together a phylogenetic tree.
Remember to use the outgroup to help you. Be careful, because from now on, you wont need to use all of the traits
provided. Answer questions 58 below before you move on to the next level, Cone rangers.
5. The common ancestor of the Poouli and common rosefinch most likely had:
a. An A at position 1
b. An A at position 16
c. A C at position 4
d. A T at position 2
6. When and how do scientists think that the common rosefinch came from Asia to Hawaii?

7. There were originally more than 56 species of honeycreeper on the Hawaiian Islands. Today, there are
just 18, and many are critically endangered, like the Poouli. What most likely happened to the other
38 species of honeycreeper?
a. They went extinct.
b. They migrated back to Asia.
c. They evolved camouflage and we cannot find them.
d. They evolved to live underground and we cannot find them.
8. Geologists think that the Hawaiian Islands formed as the Pacific plate moved over a hotspot in Earths
crust, where molten rock from the mantle made its way to the surface, as modeled below.
VOLCANOES ARE PROGRESSIVELY OLDER

NW
Niihau
Kauai
(5.6-4.9 Mya)

Lithosphere

Oahu
(3.4 Mya)

Molokai
(1.8 Mya)

Maui
(1.3 Mya)

SE
Hawaii
(0.7-0 Mya)

PACIFIC PLATE

Asthenosphere
Motion of Pacific plate
drags the plume head

Mya = million years ago

NOT TO SCALE

Would you expect a honeycreeper species that lives only on the island of Hawaii to have evolved
before or after a honeycreeper species that lives on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu? Explain
your answer.

14

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 4

Cone rangers: Before Pangaea, there was Gondwana. Gondwana was a massive continent made up of what are
today Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Antarctica, Australia, India, Madagascar, and South America. Gondwana
eventually joined up with another ancient continent, Laurasia, to form Pangaea about 300 million years ago.
Pangaea broke up for good about 175 million years ago and,
eventually, so did Gondwana. As Gondwanas landmasses
broke away from one another, they carried with them a set of
organisms that would face changing conditions as the plates
moved across Earths surface. Could this movement be a key to
why similar species live thousands of miles apart?
Play the level to find out.

LAURASIA
EQUATOR

EQUATOR

TETH

YS SE

GONDWANA

Answer questions 912 below before moving on to the

next level, Kangas, gliders, and snakes, oh my!

TRIASSIC
200 million years ago

9. Complete the tablecalled a character matrixbelow. Place a check () if the species has the trait
and leave it blank if it does not. In the final column, use the species tabs to write the location of the
large
species.
compound
cones

cone scales
w/o wings

bladelike
leaves

pollen w/o
air sacs

smaller
scaly leaves

small fleshy
cones

location

A. fibrosa
Bois
bouchon
Coral reef
pine
Monkey
puzzle tree
Norfolk
Island pine
Parana pine
Pino hayuelo

10. The pop-up question at the end of the level says that DNA testing led to the discovery that a tree in
South America is genetically similar to one in Australia. In fact, these two trees are more closely
related to each other than either one is to any other tree in this leveleven trees that are found much
closer. Which two trees are they talking about?

11. What does finding A. fibrosa on modern-day Antarctica suggest about that continents past climate?

12. Why did A. fibrosa likely go extinct?

15

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 4

Kangas, gliders, and snakes, oh my!: When a single species diversifies and forms many different but closely
related species, the process is called adaptive radiation. Galpagos finches are the result of adaptive radiation.
Adaptive radiations occur as species adapt to slightly different environmental conditions. But what about the reverse,
or when very distantly related species come to look similar because they live in similar environments? That is call
convergent evolution and its the topic of this level. Play the level and answer questions 1316 below before moving
on to the next mission, Tree of Life and Death.
13. Complete the character matrix below. Place a check () if the species has the trait and leave it blank if
it does not. In the final column, use the species tabs to write the location of the species. Some have
already been filled in for you.
vertebrate
Elephant

gives birth to
live young

pouch

prolonged
development
in womb

warmblooded

location
Asia, Africa

Flying
squirrel
Kangaroo
Platypus

Australia

Rat snake

North America

Sugar glider

14. Which of the species in this level represents the outgroup of the others? Explain your answer.

15. Representatives from the three major groups of mammals are included on the phylogenetic tree in
this level. What are the three groups called, and which animal(s) on the tree belong to each group?

16. If flying squirrels were brought to Australia, what do you predict would happen?
a. Theyd compete with sugar gliders for resources.
b. Theyd form a symbiotic relationship with sugar gliders.
c. Theyd interbreed with sugar gliders and produce offspring.
d. Theyd evolve to pouches and become identical to sugar gliders.

16

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 5

MISSION 5 Tree of Life and Death

Introductory video: Despite the skyscrapers we build, the medicines we make, and the landscapes we dominate,
humans are connected to other living thingsand we arent invincible. In fact, some of smallest things of all can
cause us tremendous harm. Thankfully, by understanding how we are connected, we can use our giant brains to
help fight back. Before you start the first level in this mission, Hosting blood flukes for dinner, watch the introductory
video and answer questions 13.
1. What is a parasite?
a. An organism that can cause disease in another organism
b. An organism that gains energy and nutrients from another organism
c. An organism that requires another organism to complete its life cycle
d. All of the above
2. What do you think the narrator means when he says, The host and the parasite are always in this
really intimate dance together?

3. What is HIV?
a. The virus that causes Ebola
b. The virus that causes AIDS
c. A method of DNA sequencing
d. An ancestor of humans and chimps

17

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 5

Hosting blood flukes for dinner: Blood flukes are the common name given to parasitic flatworms. Parasites rely on
hosts, so it perhaps doesnt come as any surprise that a blood fluke often stays in lockstep with its hosts evolution
even splitting into new species at the same time as its host. When a parasite and host speciate together, its called
cophyly. When a host and parasite do not speciate together, it may suggest that the parasite has evolved to rely on a
different host. Clues to both patterns are found in the phylogenetic tree that youll build in this level. Answer
questions 47 below before you move on to the next level, Fatal fangs.
position

E. euzeti
G. amoena
H. mehrai
S. mansoni
S. haematobius

A
T
T
T
T

T
T
T
T
T

G
C
C
C
T

C
C
T
T
C

4. Use the information on the species tabs to complete the table below.
Parasite

Host

E. euzeti
G. amoena
H. mehrai
S. mansoni
S. haematobius

green sea turtle

freshwater turtle

freshwater crocodile

human

red snapper

5. A phylogenetic tree of the hosts is shown below. Draw your phylogenetic tree from this level next to it.

18

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 5

6. Compare and contrast the host tree and the parasite tree. Where do they match up? Where are there
differences?

7.

In what way do these trees suggest that some of these species of blood flukes have switched hosts?

19

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 5

Fatal fangs: The more closely related two snakes are, the more similar their venoms tend to be. In some cases, the
venoms are so similar that an antivenom for one will work on the other. In this level, an unknown three-foot-long snake
just bit Tyler. If you can identify that snakes closest relative, you can administer the right antivenombefore its too
late. Answer questions 810 below before moving on to the next level, Dawn of a modern pandemic.
8. Complete the character matrix below:
nucleotide at
position 3

nucleotide at
position 8

gap between
fangs

single
undertail
scales

treat with
antivenom

Black whip
snake
Fierce snake
King brown
snake
Taipan snake
Tiger snake
Unknown
snake

9. Which snake is most closely related to the unknown snake that bit Tyler?
a. Black whip snake
b. Fierce snake
c. King brown snake
d. Tiger snake
10. If you were bitten by a snake that had a gap between its fangs but a double row of scales under its
tail, which antivenom would be best to administer?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D

20

The Evolution Lab

MISSION 5

Dawn of a modern pandemic: Viruses are strange, and the more we learn about them, the stranger they seem to
get. Considered by many as not quite an organism because they cant reproduce outside of a host or generate
their own energy, viruses are everywhereon every surface and inside every living thing. Contrary to what most
people think, however, many viruses are harmless. Some are likely even helpful! HIV, however, is not harmlessat
least not to humans. Where did it come from? Figuring that out is your job in this level. Answer questions 1115
below before you move on to the next mission, You Evolved, Too.
position

Chimp SIV-TAN1 (outgroup)

Gorilla SIV
HIV-1 group M
HIV-1 group N
HIV-1 group P
Chimp SIV-MB897
Chimp SIV-EK505

G
T
C
A
T
C
A

A
A
T
T
A
T
T

10 11 12 13

A
A
A
A
A
A
A

14
C
G
G
G
G
G
G

11. A Cameroonian woman living in Paris was the first to be diagnosed with HIV-1 P in 2009. Which ape
virus is most closely related to HIV-1 P?

12. Based on your completed tree, how can you distinguish HIV-1 M from HIV-1 N?
a. HIV-1 M has a C at position 1; HIV-1 N has an A.
b. HIV-1 M has an A at position 11; HIV-1 N has a G.
c. HIV-1 M has a G at position 14; HIV-1 N has a T.
d. HIV-1 M has a T at position 7; HIV-1 N has an A.
13. How do scientists think that SIV has jumped hosts to humans?

14. Based on your phylogenetic tree, how many timesat a minimumdo you infer that an HIV virus has
jumped hosts to humans? Explain your answer.

15. Viruses such as HIV reproduce rapidly. What is the connection between reproduction rate and
evolution?

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The Evolution Lab

MISSION 6

MISSION 6 You Evolved, Too

Introductory video: In his 1871 book, Descent of Man, Charles Darwin predicted that evidence would be found in
Africa that would link modern man to apes. Finally, in the 1950s, such a discovery was made by Mary and Louis
Leakey in what is today Tanzania. Since then, fossil evidence and DNA analyses have piled on the support. Today,
there is no doubt as to our close kinship with chimpanzees, with whom we shared an ancestor about 67 million
years ago. This mission is all about our evolution over those past 67 million years. Before you start the first level in
this mission, Planet of the apes, watch the introductory video and answer questions 12 based on your
background knowledge.
1. Chimpanzees are:
a. Less evolved than humans
b. Direct ancestors of humans
c. The closest living relatives to humans
d. Both a and b
2. Which of the following is a correct statement about human evolution?
a. Humans did not evolve.
b. Humans have evolved and continue to evolve.
c. Humans evolved until about 5 million years ago, but no longer evolve.
d. Humans have evolved and continue to evolve socially, but not biologically.

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The Evolution Lab

MISSION 6

Planet of the apes: You probably dont have any issue distinguishing a human from a chimpanzee, gorilla, or
orangutan. But you might if you were looking at DNA instead of physical traits. The differences you see are caused
by a shockingly tiny proportion of our DNAwho knew that just a few Gs, As, Ts, and Cs could do so much? Answer
questions 35 below before you move on to the next level, Back to skull.
position

10 11 12 13

Chimpanzee
Gorilla
Human
Orangutan

G
T
G
G

T
T
A
T

T
T
T
T

G
T
G
T

14 15

16 17 18 19 20

G
G
G
T

3. This data set shows all of the nucleotide differences in a 500-base sequence. Approximately what
percentage of DNA do humans have in common with a chimpanzee?
a. 1/500 = 0.2%
b. 5/500 = 1%
c. 495/500 = 99%
d. 499/500 = 99.8%
4. The closest living relatives to orangutans are:
a. Chimpanzees
b. Gorillas
c. Humans
d. Chimpanzees, gorillas, and humans equally
5. True or false: Gorillas are more closely related to chimpanzees and orangutans than they are to
humans. Explain your answer.

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The Evolution Lab

MISSION 6

Back to skull: Animals more closely related to modern humans than to modern chimpanzees are called hominins.
All members of the hominin group are extinct except oneus, Homo sapiens. In the not-too-distant past, there were
several other Homo species living on Earth; a couple of them lived at the same time as Homo sapiens. There were
also many species of our closest extinct cousins, the Australopithecines, and several other hominin species as well.
Although rarely even close to complete specimens, hominin fossils have told us a great deal about our extinct
relatives. In this level, youll explore features of various hominin skulls to learn about some of the things that make us
and other members of our genus Homohuman. Complete the level and answer questions 610 below before
moving on to the final level, Inside out of Africa.
6. According to the completed tree, which of the following traits is shared among all species in the
genus Homo, but no others?
a. Large braincase
b. Midsized braincase
c. More upright face
d. Smaller canine teeth
7. The first hominin species to spread out of Africa was:
a. The chimpanzee
b. H. erectus
c. H. neanderthalensis
d. H. sapiens
8. The date ranges for each of the hominins in this puzzle are given below. Plot them on the timeline
given. One has been done for you.
Species

Known Date Range

Australopithecus afarensis

3.852.95 million years ago

Homo erectus

1.89 million years ago143,000 years ago

Homo neanderthalensis

400,00040,000 years ago

Homo sapiens

200,000 years agopresent

Homo sapiens

Present

1 mya

2 mya

3 mya

4 mya

mya= millions of years ago; 0.5 mya = 500,000 years ago

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The Evolution Lab

MISSION 6

9. At least how many Homo species shared the planet 500,000 years ago?

10. A common misconception is that humans evolved from chimpanzees. It can therefore be confusing to
some people that there are still chimpanzees. How could you use a tree diagram like the one you
generated in this level to explain the correct relationship between living chimps and living humans?

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The Evolution Lab

MISSION 6

Inside out of Africa: Most hominin species, including Homo sapiens, arose in Africa. It is sometimes possible to
extract DNA from ancient humans (of our species and closest cousins) for analysis. The oldest hominin DNA ever
sequenced came from a 400,000-year-old thighbone. Comparisons among ancient remains and populations of
humans around the world have yielded insights into when and how various Homo species migrated out of Africa.
Answer questions 1113 below before you move on to the conclusion video.
position

Dinka
Italian
Khoisan
P.N. Guinean
Yoruba

G
G
G
A
G

G
G
G
G
G

A
G
A
A
A

10 11 12 13

C
T
T
T
T

G
C
G
C
G

C
T
T
T
C

14 15

16 17 18 19 20

21

T
T
C
T
T

G
G
G
G
A

11. There is significant genetic evidence to suggest that interbreeding occurred between Homo
neanderthalensis and which other species?
a. Australopithecus afarensis
b. Homo erectus
c. Homo habilis
d. Homo sapiens
12. Yoruba peoples are most closely related to which other population from the phylogenetic tree?
a. Dinka
b. Italian
c. Papua New Guinean
d. Dinka and Papua New Guinean equally
13. No fossils of Homo neanderthalensis have been found in Africa, but many African populations have
traces of Neanderthal DNA. If Neanderthals were never in Africa (which is a possibility, though fossils
may yet be found), how can the presence of Neanderthal DNA be explained?

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The Evolution Lab

MISSION 6

Conclusion: Evolution Continues

Youve completed all of the missions! There is just one thing left to do. Watch the conclusion video and then answer
this final question: What is the most surprising thing you have learned while playing through these missions? What is
one thing that youd like to learn more about?

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