1. Comparing DNA Using Blast
AKA that lab with the seal DNA sequence that used Clustal X and was horrifically obnoxious

2. Purpose
To identify via the HBB gene which organisms are most closely related and accurately position them on an evolutionary tree
To hypothesize whether marine mammals arose from a single evolutionary event or several different events

3. Terms
GenBank-DNA and protein sequence database hosted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information
HBB-Hemoglobin Beta Gene/Protein
FASTA FILE
CLUSTALX
PHYLOWIN

4. More Terms
Outgroup-provides a “root” to the tree by serving as an example of an ancestral state for the traits we are comparing. Should be the most different organism
Phylogenetic tree-also called an evolutionary tree. Shows, you know, evolution.
Cladogram-specific type of evolutionary tree. Formed via cladistic methods

5. Phylogenetic Tree

6. Cladogram

7. Just in Case
The lab seems to indicate that marine mammals from the whale to the seal arose from a single evolutionary event.
As an example of an outgroup, the lab uses a red kangaroo. This is because all the animals studied were placental mammals, while the kangaroo was a marsupial, making it the most different
HBB is shared by all mammals, and only shows some variations, never changing completely.