Diversity Unit Day 1

Class began with our first Vocabulary Quiz.  As a reminder, we will be having a vocabulary quiz every Tuesday for seven weeks.

I then introduced the Diversity Unit in a fairly standard lecture format.  We first reviewed phylogeny and how scientists use evidence from the fossil record, morphology and molecular data to deduce evolutionary relationships.  I emphasized that phylogenetic trees are merely hyopotheses based on the best data available.  We also learned the classification scheme.  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THIS IN ORDER:  Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.  Students offered up mnemonic devices to help remember this system.

Next began our discussion of the prokaryotic domains: bacteria and archaea.  The information on these domains can be found in Chapter 27.  If you missed these notes I would like you to get them from a classmate.  We will continue this discussion on block day this week.