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Earth and Life Science

Quarter 2 – Module 29
The Process of Evolution
What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the process of evolution. The scope of this module permits it to be used in
many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse
vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard
sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to
correspond with the textbook you are now using.

The module covers:

 Lesson 2 – The Process of Evolution

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Describe how the present system of classification of organisms is based on

evolutionary relationships;
2. Interpret and explain the phylogenetic tree;
3. Explain the importance of phylogenetic tree to evolutionary relationship of
organisms.

What I Know
Directions. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Greek word phylon from the word phylogeny means _______________________.
A. ancestor
B. branch
C. origin
D. tribe
2. Greek word genesis from the word phylogeny means ____________________.
A. ancestor
B. branch
C. origin
D. tribe
3. Diagram that trace evolutionary relationships and connections among
organisms
A. evolution
B. family tree
C. lineages tree
D. phylogenetic tree
4. Lineages that evolved early from the root and remain unbranched
A. basal taxon
B. branch point
C. root
D. sister taxa
5. The point where split takes place
A. basal taxon
B. branch point
C. polytomy
D. sister taxa
6. Branch with more than two lineages
A. basal taxon
B. branch point
C. polytomy
D. sister taxa
7. Point of two lineages stem from the same branch
A. basal taxon
B. branch point
C. root
D. sister taxa
8. Indicates that an ancestral lineage gave rise to all organisms on the tree
A. basal taxon
B. branch point
C. root
D. sister taxa
9. Monophyletic group is also called _________________.
A. clade
B. domain
C. genus
D. taxa
10. Group which shows common ancestor
A. monophyletic
B. paraphyletic
C. polyphyletic
D. polytomy
11. Indicates more than two immediate descendants
A. monophyletic
B. paraphyletic
C. polyphyletic
D. polytomy
12. Includes recent common ancestors are not included only distant relative
A. monophyletic
B. paraphyletic
C. polyphyletic
D. polytomy

13. Refers to recent common ancestor but not all descendants are included
A. monophyletic
B. paraphyletic
C. polyphyletic
D. polytomy

For numbers 14 -15. Analyze the structure of phylogenetic tree.

14. What letter represents the root?

A. A
B. I
C. J
D. K

15. B and C are _________________.

A. branch point
B. node
C. sister taxa
D. polytomy

Lesson
The Process of Evolution
29
In 1835, when Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands, evidence has been found to
indicate that living things have changed gradually during their natural history. The
study of fossils as well as biogeography, embryology, molecular evidence, and
comparative anatomy such as homologous structure, analogous structure and
vestigial structure provide evidence for evolution.
What’s In

Activity 1
Match the picture with each type of evidence. Choose your answer from the word
bank below. Write your answer inside the box.
1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

analogous structure molecular evidence fossil

embryology vestigial structure homologous structure

What’s New
The evolutionary history of a group of organisms is called phylogeny from the Greek
word phylon which means “tribe” and genesis which means “origin”. Biologist
traditionally represent the genealogy or organism’s line of evolutionary development
of organisms as phylogenetic trees, which are diagrams that trace evolutionary
relationships and connections among organisms.
A phylogenetic tree can be read like a map of evolutionary history. Rooted
phylogenetic trees have single lineage at the base representing a common ancestor.

Activity 2
Label the parts of rooted phylogenetic tree based on the given description.
 1.

2.

3.

5. 4.

Structure of Rooted Phylogenetic tree

branch point the point where split occurs
basal taxon lineage that evolved early from the root
and remains unbranched
sister taxa point of two lineages stem from the same
branch
polytomy branch with more than two lineages
Root Indicates that an ancestral lineage gave
rise to all organisms on the tree

What is It
There are four groups of evolutionary tree namely monophyletic, paraphyletic,
polyphyletic and soft polytomy. Monophyletic group is also called clade which
shows common ancestor. Paraphyletic group refers to recent common ancestor but
not all descendants are included. Polyphyletic group includes recent common
ancestors are not included only distant relative. Soft polytomy indicates more than
two immediate descendants.

Activity 3

Identify what group of evolutionary tree is illustrated below.

1. 2.
_____________________________ _________________________________
3.

____________________________ __________________________________

What’s More

Activity 4
Analyze the phylogenetic tree. Fill the blank with the correct answer. Please be
guided by the Structure of Rooted Phylogenetic tree discussed.

1. The root of the tree is represented by letter ______________.

2. ____________ shows common ancestor of B and C.
3. A to E represents the ________________________.
4. B and C are ____________________.
5. Which is more likely close related? A and C or C and D?

What I Have Learned

Activity 5

Complete the sentences.

(1)__________________ were grouped and used as evidence and basis for further
classification of living things. The evolutionary history of a group of organisms is
called (2)__________________ from the Greek word phylon which means “tribe” and
genesis which means “origin”.
 A (3) ____________________ can be read like a map of evolutionary history. Rooted
phylogenetic trees have single lineage at the base representing a common ancestor.
Structures of phylogenetic tree are tip or terminal node, basal taxon, sister taxa,
polytomy and root. (4)___________________ is the point where split occurs. Lineage
that evolved early from the root and remains unbranched is called
(5)__________________________. A branch with more lineages is polytomy while
(6)____________________ shows that ancestral lineage gave rise to all organisms on
the tree.
The four groups of evolutionary tree are monophyletic, paraphyletic, polyphyletic
and soft polytomy. (7)______________ group is also called clade which shows
common ancestor and all their descendent. (8)_______________ group refers to
recent common ancestor but not all descendent are included. (9) ______________
group includes recent common ancestors are not included only distant relative.
(10)__________________ indicates that branching is unknown.

What I Can Do
Activity 6

Complete the phylogenetic tree. Choose the corresponding organism from the word
bank.

Alligator Beavers Dolphin Tuna

Frog Gorilla Tyrannosaurus

Assessment
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Lineages that evolved early from the root and remain unbranched
a. basal taxon
b. branch point
c. root
d. sister taxa

2. The point where split takes place

a. basal taxon
b. branch point
c. polytomy
d. sister taxa

3. Indicates that an ancestral lineage gave rise to all organisms on the tree
a. basal taxon
b. branch point
c. root
d. sister taxa

4. Monophyletic group is also called _________________.

a. clade
b. domain
c. genus
d. taxa

5. Branch with more than two lineages

a. basal taxon
b. branch point
c. polytomy
d. sister taxa

6. Point of two lineages stem from the same branch

a. basal taxon
b. branch point
c. root
d. sister taxa

7. Greek word phylon from the word phylogeny means ______________________.

8. ancestor
b. branch
c. origin
d. tribe

9. Greek word genesis from the word phylogeny means ____________________.

10. ancestor
b. branch
c. origin
d. tribe

11. Diagram that trace evolutionary relationships and connections among

organisms
a. evolution
b. family tree
c. lineages tree
d. phylogenetic tree

For numbers 10 -11. Analyze the structure of phylogenetic tree.

12. Letter K represents _______________?

a. branch point
b. node
c. sister taxa
d. root

13. D and E are _________________.

a. branch point
b. node
c. sister taxa
d. root

14. Common ancestor shows in group _____________.

a. monophyletic
b. paraphyletic
c. polyphyletic
d. polytomy

15. Indicates more than two immediate descendants

a. monophyletic
b. paraphyletic
c. polyphyletic
d. polytomy

16. Includes recent common ancestors are not included only distant
relative
a. monophyletic
b. paraphyletic
c. polyphyletic
d. polytomy

17. Indicates recent common ancestor but not all descendants are included
a. monophyletic
b. paraphyletic
c. polyphyletic
d. polytomy

Additional Activities

Activity 7

Study the phylogenetic tree then answer the questions below.

Questions:
1. What do you call the place where two branches split apart? ________________ 2.
What does the branch point that connect chimpanzee, bonobo and human
represent? _____________________________________________________________________
3. What is that single branch point from which all branches originate?
_________________________________
4. What does the node closest to the root represent?
_____________________________ 5. How important is phylogenetic tree?
______________________________