What to know how you're related to a brown rat? Interpret this infographic to find out. Register to explore the whole course here: https://school.bighistoryproject.com/bhplive?WT.mc_id=Slideshare12202017

1. TEACHER MATERIALS
TREE OF LIFE INFOGRAPHIC (ANSWER KEY)
Purpose
This activity gives students practice with interpreting infographics and also supports student understanding of the similarities and differences between humans and
other species.
Process
Students will locate the species listed below on the infographic and write down the domain to which they belong:
• brown rat
• zebrafish
• Giardia lamblia
• Salmonella typhi
• Campylobacter jejuni
• Streptomyces coelicolor
• Streptococcus mutans
• Methanosarcina acetivorans
Have students answer the following questions:
1. What is the importance of each of the species listed above?
2. Which domain is probably the largest?
3. What are the major differences between each of the domains?
4. What is LUCA?
5. What species is our closest relative?
6. Did we branch off the taxonomic tree from our closest relative or did we develop separately from each other? What does this tell you about our relationship?
7. Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes both branched off from what type of animal?
8. What are the taxonomic similarities between the following species: Pan troglodytes, Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus?
Have students discuss their answers with the class.
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.1 ACTIVITY

2. TEACHER MATERIALS
TREE OF LIFE INFOGRAPHIC (ANSWER KEY)
Purpose
This activity will give you practice with interpreting infographics and will also support your understanding of the similarities and differences between humans and
other species.
Process
Locate the species listed below on the infographic, and write down the domain to which each belongs:
brown rat Eukaryota
zebrafish Eukaryota
Giardia lamblia Eukaryota
Salmonella typhi Archaea
Campylobacter jejuni Bacteria
Streptomyces coelicolor Bacteria
Streptococcus mutans Bacteria
Methanosarcina acetivorans Archaea
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.1 ACTIVITY

3. TEACHER MATERIALS
TREE OF LIFE INFOGRAPHIC (ANSWER KEY)
Directions: Answer the following questions. Be prepared to discuss your answers with the class.
1. What is the importance of each
of the species listed?
2. Which domain is probably the
largest?
3. What are the major differences
between each of the domains?
4. What is LUCA?
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.1 ACTIVITY
Sample answer: Each of these species represents just a small sliver of the biodiversity on planet Earth. Each occupies a
very important niche within the biosphere and plays an essential role in the movement of energy through ecosystems.
Sample answer: Bacteria is the most abundant. We live in an age in which scientific discoveries are frequent and continue
to inform us about the world. However, even with all the organisms known to exist, there are many species that remain
undiscovered.
Sample answer: The major distinction between members of Eukaryota, Archaea, and Bacteria is the complexity of their
cells. Eukaryota have eukaryotic cells—meaning that their cells have a membrane surrounding their genetic material.
Archaea and Bacteria can be differentiated from one another in that the Archaea are also known as “extremophiles”—
meaning they “prefer” to live in extreme conditions. Bacteria live virtually everywhere else.
Sample answer: LUCA is an acronym that stands for “last universal common ancestor.” If you trace the evolutionary tree of
every organism back to its base, that’s where you’ll end up. As the term implies, it is the common ancestor of all life. LUCA
was present on Earth roughly 3.5 billion years ago.

4. TEACHER MATERIALS
TREE OF LIFE INFOGRAPHIC (ANSWER KEY)
5. What species is our closest
relative?
6. Did we branch off the
taxonomic tree from our closest
relative or did we develop
separately from each other?
What does this tell you about
our relationship?
7. Homo sapiens and Pan
troglodytes both branched off
from what type of animal?
8. What are the taxonomic
similarities between the
following species: Pan
troglodytes, Homo sapiens, Mus
musculus, Rattus norvegicus?
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.1 ACTIVITY
Sample answer: The chimpanzee is our closest relative—genetically speaking, over 98 percent identical to us.
Sample answer: Humans and chimpanzees were on the same part of the taxonomic tree until about 7 million years ago,
when humans branched off on their own. Humans did not evolve from chimps. We are related to them, but have traveled
our own evolutionary path separate from chimpanzees.
Sample answer: Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes both branched off from an ape-like, nonbipedal hominid that lived 7
million years ago in central and east Africa.
Sample answer: All of these organisms are members of the domain Eukaryota. Some further investigation will also show
that they are also members of the phylum Chordata, and of the class Mammalia.

5. Name: Date:
STUDENT MATERIALS
TREE OF LIFE INFOGRAPHIC
Purpose
This activity will give you practice with interpreting infographics and will also support your understanding of the similarities and differences between humans and
other species.
Process
Locate the species listed below on the infographic, and write down the domain to which each belongs:
brown rat
zebrafish
Giardia lamblia
Salmonella typhi
Campylobacter jejuni
Streptomyces coelicolor
Streptococcus mutans
Methanosarcina acetivorans
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.1 ACTIVITY

6. Name: Date:
STUDENT MATERIALS
TREE OF LIFE INFOGRAPHIC
Directions: Answer the following questions. Be prepared to discuss your answers with the class.
1. What is the importance of each
of the species listed?
2. Which domain is probably the
largest?
3. What are the major differences
between each of the domains?
4. What is LUCA?
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.1 ACTIVITY

7. Name: Date:
STUDENT MATERIALS
TREE OF LIFE INFOGRAPHIC
5. What species is our closest
relative?
6. Did we branch off the
taxonomic tree from our closest
relative or did we develop
separately from each other?
What does this tell you about
our relationship?
7. Homo sapiens and Pan
troglodytes both branched off
from what type of animal?
8. What are the taxonomic
similarities between the
following species: Pan
troglodytes, Homo sapiens, Mus
musculus, Rattus norvegicus?
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.1 ACTIVITY