Please answer the following questions about phylogenetics 1. The following are nucleotide sequences from a homologous gene sequence in six different species of the slime mold genus, Dictyostelium, and an outgroup (Dermamoeba algensi):
a) Identify the synapomorphies in the table and recode them as binary characters (0, 1) in a table like that shown below. Al character states (traits) in the outgroup are ancestral so are coded by convention as 0 while derived character states are coded as 1. Omit synapomorphies that only support the ingroup as a monophyletic clade.
b) Consider the tree diagram below. Assuming that this phylogeny us accurate, map each of the six characters onto the branches of the tree to show where the characters are gained and/or lost. There are multiple ways of mapping the characters – show just one (correct) one here.
2. How many “evolutionary steps” are described by the phylogenetic hypothesis shown above? Using the same six characters propose an alternative phylogenetic hypothesis in the form of a branching diagram. You can do this by rearranging the taxa in the terminals of the diagram or by mapping the characters onto your diagram differently. How many steps does your alternative diagram have?
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