Using Pipe Cleaners To Bring the Tree of Life To Life

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2010

Department

Biological Sciences

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

Phylogenetic trees, such as the "Tree of Life," are commonly found in biology textbooks and are often used in teaching. Because students often struggle to understand these diagrams, I developed a simple, inexpensive classroom model. Made of pipe cleaners, it is easily manipulated to rotate branches, compare topologies, map complete lineages, identify informative phylogenetic features, and examine the effects of superficial structural. changes. Copyright © 2010 by National Association of Biology Teachers.

Publication Title

American Biology Teacher

Volume

72

Issue

4

First Page

223

Last Page

224

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