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    What is Speciation, How Does It Occur, and Why Is It Important for Conservation?
    Speciation provides a framework for classifying biodiversity on Earth and is a central concept in evolutionary biology. To help undergraduate students learn about speciation, we designed a...

    Keywords: EvolutionconservationGenetic DriftSpeciationNatural SelectionBiological species conceptgene flowMorphological species conceptPhylogenetic species concept

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    Building Trees: Introducing evolutionary concepts by exploring Crassulaceae phylogeny and biogeography
    Teaching evolutionary theory is foundational for all biological sciences and a key aspect of overall science literacy. The conceptual framework for understanding evolution relies on thinking...

    Keywords: EvolutionphylogeneticsTree thinkingbiogeography

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    Studying phylogeny by producing phylogenetic trees of primates using morphological and molecular characteristics.
    An assignment constructing phylogenetic trees using shared, derived morphological traits and molecular differences among 18 primate species and two outlier species has been developed. Skull and...
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    Introduction to Phylogenetic Trees for Comparative Genomic Analysis
    In this activity, students are introduced to phylogenetic trees and networks as tools for analyzing evolutionary relationships.
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    One species, two species, red species, lead species? Phylogenetics and species concepts with Plethodon salamanders
    This lab introduces students to species concepts and basic computer-based tree-building methods using published nuclear and mitochondrial sequence data for Plethodon salamanders.

    Keywords: phylogenetic analysisTree thinkingsalamanderAudience level - Advanced UG

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    A Phylogenetic Analysis of the Evolution of the CRYAA Gene Across Vertebrates
    Although the divergence of the aA-crystallin protein from other heat shock proteins has been examined, the extent to which the CRYAA gene controlling it has evolved across vertebrate species...

    Keywords: phylogeneticsvertebrates

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    Forensic Phylogenetics: Implementing Tree-thinking in a Court of Law
    Here we describe an in-class activity developed for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity (BioEE1780) at Cornell University, an introductory course required of all biology majors. This activity...

    Keywords: phylogeneticsTree thinkingparaphyly

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    Interpreting the Pseudocot Phylogeny
    Students use physical characteristics, genetics, and a fossil record of hypothetical flowering plants to develop fundamental phylogenetic tree-building skills.
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    Bioinformatics is a BLAST: Engaging First-Year Biology Students on Campus Biodiversity Using DNA Barcoding
    In order to introduce students to the concept of molecular diversity, we developed a short, engaging online lesson using basic bioinformatics techniques. Students were introduced to basic...

    Keywords: geneticsorganismal biologybioinformaticstaxonomyDNA Barcodingspecies concepts

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    Using DNA Subway to Analyze Sequence Relationships
    This is a bioinformatics exercise using the DNA Subway Blue Line, a user-friendly pipeline of bioinformatics tools, to analyze a collection of mosquito DNA bar-code sequences.

    Keywords: phylogeneticsNIBLSEDNA BarcodingDNA sequenceBLASTmultiple sequence alignmentC1. Role of bioinformaticsC2. Computational conceptsC4. Bioinformatics toolsC5. Data retrievalC8. Data typesIncubated at NIBLSE

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    Species Conservation Management Plan Report and Class Exercise
    In this project, students work in pairs to become an expert in their assigned IUCN Red List endangered species. They are charged to create a well-researched, written conservation management plan....

    Keywords: ecologyconservation4DEE Frameworkmanagement planspeed dating exercise

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    Lesson V - Phylogenetics
    Genome Solver began as a way to teach undergraduate faculty some basic skills in bioinformatics; no coding or scripting is required. Lesson V is an introduction to Phylogenetics.

    Keywords: Bioinformatics EducationBioinformatics and Genomics

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    DNA Subway Learning Resources
    DNA Subway is a NIBLSE Recommended resource. This is a collection of learning resources associated with DNA Subway.

    Keywords: phylogeneticsIntroductoryLabbioinformaticsUndergraduateNIBLSEDNA BarcodingDNA sequenceBLASTmultiple sequence alignmentDNA SubwayInstructional SettingAudience LevelAdvancedActivity LengthExtended ProjectC1. Role of bioinformaticsC2. Computational conceptsC4. Bioinformatics toolsC5. Data retrievalC8. Data types

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    Cladistic Analysis Lesson Using Bats
    Phylogenetic analysis can be a challenging concept to grasp for undergraduate biology students. This cladistic analysis lesson utilizes the amazingly diverse Order Chiroptera as a model to...

    Keywords: batsphylogeny and classificationVertebrate Morphologycladistic analysisbat evolution

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    Polyploidapalooza: Exploring the diversity and evolution of polyploid plants and animals
    This series of modules explores the complex world of polyploidy, including species formation, cell division, evolution, conservation, and economic importance. We focus on polyploidy across the...

    Keywords: Evolutionconservationnatural historyCell DivisionhybridizationPolyploidygenome duplicationallopolyploidyautopolyploidy

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    What is a species? Using DNA barcodes to identify species and determine insect responses to global warming
    Combining ecology, molecular tools and physiology, students investigate insect adaptation to temperatures along tropical mountains. Students integrate species concepts, DNA barcoding and thermal...

    Keywords: global warmingbeetleBiological species conceptCephaloleiacrticial thermal maximumcryptic specieselevational gradientsthermal limitstropical insectsZingiberales

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    Is Earth Currently Undergoing a Sixth Mass Extinction?
    The five Phanerozoic mass extinctions were central in shaping biodiversity on Earth today. Due to increasing biodiversity losses, there is debate about whether we are currently undergoing a sixth...

    Keywords: conservationBiodiversityextinctionMass ExtinctionDeep Time

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    Escape Zoom!: Reviewing Introductory Evolution Content Using an Escape Room Format
    Reviewing and integrating key concepts and learning goals at the end of a biology course can be overwhelming to students and instructors alike. Often end-of-term review sessions in preparation for...

    Keywords: Evolutionartificial selectionSpeciationextinctionsexual selectionphylogenetic treesmechanisms of evolution

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    Applying phylogenetic tree building in MEGA X to forensic applications for identifying unknown specimens
    This exercise is designed to guide a learner through the construction of phylogenetic trees as a means of addressing research questions in forensic science such as the identification of previously...

    Keywords: taxonomyBioinformatics and GenomicsDNA Barcodinginvertebrate phylogeneticsforensic entomology

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    When did I lose my legs? A limbless lizard tale
    Using oVERT project models students examine examples of extant traditional lizards, snakes and limbless lizards and create phylogenies based on trait and genetic data.

    Keywords: phylogeneticsevolutionary biologyHerpetologynatural history collections3D models#NGSSdigitized natural history collectionsoVertConvergent Evolution

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