The Problem Once we understand how life might have began, we then need to understand where life went from there. It is likely that, if cell theory holds, the species all emerged from a single collection of similar species at some basic level (like the microsphere). In order to understand the relationships between species on the evolutionary tree, we need to be able classify organisms as a part of a species. Before this, we need to define the characteristics which separate one species from another. The problem presented in this lab was one of classification of organisms into particular groups -- without resorting to the same number of groups as different organisms. More precisely the problem is also one about how to describe structures. Without knowing what a hand is, how could one describe a hand? Afterwhich, how similar does a structure have to be to be considered a hand? This goes on and on for many structures. The problem can be summed up with the question: how similar should characteristics be to be in the same group for which to sort organisms into? The question requires organisms to be observed for (the same) characteristics given a certain amount of allowance in variation. For example, if one organism has a mouth, while the other doesn't, then one has an uncommon characteristic. If one has a large mouth, and one has a small mouth, they are both mouths, and these organisms should be grouped together (if the mouth was the only available characteristic to work from). `The purpose of the lab was to gain skill in identifying morphology of organisms and using that information to classify those organisms into groups.` Procedures To illustrate this problem, a lab was set up with 25 different organisms preserved in bottles. For each organism, five observations were made. At first, one might be lead to think that there shouldn't be the use terms like `hand' or `mouth' - but after attempting to classify organisms based on questionable descriptions ("extension from upper part of body") it is obvious that more objects common in daily life should be used. It is quite difficult to describe complex organisms with simple-worded sentences consisting of words like 'extensions', 'appendages', 'out-growths', and (the favorite) 'things'. A trap to avoid. Once observations have been made, a cladogram should be designed. A cladogram consists of characteristics across the top of a table and the names of organisms down one side. Then, in the associated column and row, one marks whether or not the organism has that characteristic. Once it has been completed, similar characteristics are grouped together. For example, if two organism have characteristic X (while no other organisms do) and also have characteristic Y (while all other organisms also do) then it can be concluded that characteristic Y either (1) developed before characteristic X or (2) developed after characteristic X thanks to particular selective pressures on the population of the given two species. Data The data has been collected on two separate sheets of notebook paper. For each organism, there are some observations made in pencil. Though they were the original observations, they were not entirely useful in the production of the cladogram. Later, the observations made in pen were taken. The observations in pen are more concise and use as few words as possible. Structures which were commonly observed were mouths, eyes, ears, noses/snouts, skin, legs, arms, heads, bodies, other growths from the body, hairs, and miscellaneous traits/qualities/characteristics listed on the document. The particular collection of triats Conclusions The classification groups are as follows: the Exoscalus, the Hairriea, the Tenturmea, the Clawrmia, the Strinu, the Stitarancites, the Dullutes, and the Spheritralus. Each organism is placed into these categories based on the most prominent characteristic. So, for example: if an organism has hair, but also has abnormally large eyes compared to other organisms, it would fit into the one that concerns abnormally large eyes. (1) The Exoscalus group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) exoskeleton, (2) scales, (3) shell, (4) sectioned body. #16, #19, #20, #23 (2) The Hairriea group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) hair, (2) nose or snout, (3) eyes, (4) mouth, (5) head. #9, #18 (3) The Tenturmea group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) arms, (2) legs, (3) wings, (4) tentacles. #7, #14 (4) The Clawrmia group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) tail, (2) claws, (3) hands, (4) frontal-arms. #4, #5, #8 (5) The Strinu group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) skin, (2) stripes, (3) ridges, (4) spiral pattern. #2, #3, #17, #21, #24 (6) The Stitarancites group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) branches, (2) leaves, (3) stick-like, (4) strands-based, (5) tree-like in structure. #13, #12 (and possibly #3) (7) The Dullutes group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) flat, (2) no distinct structure being followed, (3) wide, (4) dull edges. #6, #10, #11, #22, #25 (8) The Spheritralus group consists of organisms with any of the following characteristics as the most prominent: (1) spherical in form, (2) distinct central body. #1, #15 Under this system of classification, organisms in each group are given after the list of characteristics.