In 2014, scientists released a phylogenetic (evolutionary) tree diagram that showed how different insect groups arose from ancestral groups and when this happened.
To make the diagram, the scientists compared nucleotide and amino acid sequence data from 1478 genes in each of 103 insect species. These 103 species included all 32 orders of the class Insecta.
The data were then used to place the species into related groups according to how similar their molecular sequences were, and to follow sequence changes through time.
(a(i))[3]
State three ways in which members of the same species are alike.
(a(ii))[2]
Organisms are placed into a hierarchical system of taxonomic units.
State the domain and kingdom that insects are in.
(a(iii))[2]
Explain why a phylogenetic tree diagram is helpful when classifying insect species.
(b(i))[1]
Calculate the total number of sequences compared, allowing for both the nucleotide and amino acid sequences for each gene.
(b(ii))[3]
Explain why bioinformatic techniques are needed in this investigation.
Worked solution & mark scheme
This 11-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: “similar in morphology” …