Name:_ _Per: ____

Evidence for Evolution WS

Scientists use a variety of techniques to determine if species are closely related or not. All of these techniques provide
evidence for evolution. If species are closely related, then they must have come from a common ancestor that evolved over
time into two separate species. Today we will be using data to analyze the relationships between different species of whales.

1. Scientists use embryos to study the

evolution of organisms. An embryo is an
unborn organism in the process of
development. This is a picture of a whale
embryo at the right. Look at the embryo
handout BELOW and compare the whale
embryo to the embryos of other animals.
Which embryo on the handout do you think
is most closely related to the whale?

2. Why do you think this animal is most closely related to the whale?

3. Scientists also use vestigial structures to look at how organisms evolved. Vestigial
structures are structures that an organism has but that are no longer used. For
example, humans have a tailbone but we don’t actually have a tail! This is
because we came from a common ancestor a long time ago that had a tail. Over
time, our tail got shorter and shorter because we didn’t need it anymore. Look at
the picture below of a whale showing vestigial structures (pelvis and femur). Why
would a whale have a pelvis (hip bone) and femur (legs) even though it doesn’t
walk?

4. Look at the diagram at the right. The common ancestor is the organism at
the bottom of the “tree”. Would the common ancestor of all these species
have a pelvis and femur?
 5. In addition to comparing structures that no longer serve a purpose, scientists
compare structures that still serve a purpose for the organism. These
structures are called homologous structures. Look at the picture to the right.
How are the flipper and the human arm similar?

6. How are the whale flipper and the human arm different?

7. Given what you know about humans and whales, do you think they may have shared a common ancestor a long time
ago? Why or why not?

8. Fossils can provide scientists with clues as to how organisms evolved. Look at the fossils below. Place them in order
by numbering them to show how whales evolved over time.

_____ _________ ____________

____________ ___________ ____#6_____

9. Scientists use morphology to look at relationships between species. Morphology is the study of physical structures of
organisms (ex: limbs, body parts, shapes). Look at the Whale Species Handout below, and compare each species to
the Sei Whale. Which species do you think is most closely related to the Sei Whale?

10. List at least two pieces of evidence from the pictures that led you to believe that the species you chose in #9 was
most closely related to the Sei Whale.
11. Scientists also use DNA sequences to figure out which organisms are most closely related to each other. Compare
the B. borealis (sei whale) DNA sequence to the other species of whales. Circle any differences.

B. borealis (sei whale) AAA CCG TAG GCG TCA CGG TAA ATT CCC
B. bonarensis (mink whale) AAG CAC TTT GCA TCA CCC TTT ATT CCG
B. physalus (fin whale) AAG CAC TTG GCA TCA CGG TTT ATT CCG
B. brydei (bryde’s whale) AAA CCC TTG GCG TCA CGG TAA ATT CCG

12. Which species of whale seems to be the most closely related to B. borealis (Sei Whale)?

13. Why do you think this whale is most closely related to the B. borealis (Sei whale)? (Hint: how did you use the DNA to
figure it out?)
Embryo Handout
Use this for question 1
 Whale Species Handout
Use this for question 9
Minke Whale
Size: 18 feet
Weight: 12,000 pounds
Snout: Sharply pointed
Throat Grooves: 50-70
Dorsal Fin size: 21-23 inches

Sei Whale
Size: 60 feet
Weight: 44,000 pounds
Snout: Sharply pointed
Throat Grooves: 32-60
Dorsal fin size: 12-18
inches

Fin Whale
Size: 68 feet
Weight: 100,000 pounds
Snout: Rounded

Throat Grooves: 56-100

Dorsal fin size: 11 inches

Bryde’s Whale
Size: 40-50 feet
Weight: 50,000 pounds
Snout: Sharply pointed
Throat Grooves: 40-50
Dorsal Fin Size: 12-14 inches