<<

6:

VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6, FEBRUARY 2020

THIS MONTH WEIRD AND WONDERFUL DIVERSITY OF LIFE • The Land Invasion Dioramas page 2 • DNA The root words of : changing with new information. ○ Extracting page 7 • phaneros (Greek) visible, New finds will reveal new ○ Mitosis page 8 evident information. are hard ○ Forensic Sequences • zoion (Greek) evidence. Scientists can say page 11 that this did occur. New fossils ○ Phylogenetic In the 1950s, geologists may tell a deeper and richer Sequences page 15 developed the systematic study story. ○ DNA RNA Tutorial & of animal fossils. With the Definitions page 17 Explosion (the burst Science is amazing! • Paleozoic Period of fossils from the Early Timeline page 22 Cambrian 541 MYA), scientists thought they had identified the POWER WORDS origins of . Later, • dynamic: characterized additional fauna was found in by constant change, the . Oops! We activity, or progress still recognize the start of the • eon: a major division of Cambrian Period in the geological time, Paleozoic Era as the beginning subdivided into of the Phanerozoic Eon. • MYA: million ago • Phanerozoic Eon: As you know from making your current eon in geologic own timeline of ’s history, time scale, covering the the , , and past 541 million years Eons are not to • systematic: done to a scale in the image to the right. fixed plan or The Phanerozoic Eon is scaled.

CAREER CONNECTION With this issue, you will begin • Your Personality and the survey of life during the Interests page 31 Paleozoic Era as revealed by the record. Science is dynamic knowledge, constantly

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION 4-H PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION

THE LAND INVASION — Edge onto Land 2

Cambrian (485-540 MYA): plants and the ice age at the end POWER WORDS At the beginning of the of the . Below is an • bryophyte: small, non- Paleozoic Era, weird and image of a carpet of moss. vascular wonderful animals • invertebrate: an animal squirmed, wiggled, and swam. lacking a backbone Land, however, was barren. No • terrestrial: of, on, or had edged its way to cover relating to land on the bare bedrock. Earth; inhabitant of Earth What do you think the land • : means “four looked like before plants? The foot” animals image below is a NASA image other than of Mars. While Mars may have (, , had oceans, lakes, and rivers in birds, and ) the past, now the only water is (419-443 MYA): • vascular: relating to or deep underground or frozen. It The fossil (drawing denoting the plant would have been different on below) is the first known land tissues (xylem and Earth, with our oceans teeming plant with vascular tissue (like phloem) which conduct with life. The image could have ). It was just a inch tall with water, sap, and been what Earth looked like an upright stalk. The bryophytes nutrients in flowering before plants invaded the land. were still the dominant plant. plants, , ferns, Apparently the low-lying carpet and their relatives. of plants provided enough protection for the first air- breathing animals on land, the . The oldest known terrestrial animals found are a scorpion found in rock 350 MYA and a from 428 MYA. (359-419 MYA): First (image below) of vascular plants, lycophytes (club mosses), horsetails,

Ordovician (443-485 MYA): The first fossil evidence of plants on land is from 470 MYA. The first plants were seedless and nonvascular, like moss, hornworts and liverworts, called bryophytes. (52.Springtime, pages 2-7 for activities on the 4 MATERIALS major groups of plants: https:// • computer with internet tra.extension.colostate.edu/stem • 7 sturdy shoeboxes with separate lids -k12/stem-resources/). That • playdough, plaster of Paris, or papier mâché would have provided a carpet of • art supplies (e.g. tape, scissors, markers, glue, green hugging the exposed poster paint, tissue paper, etc.) rock. Further away from water, • craft knife or box cutter (& parent supervision) these early plants would not be • cellophane wrap (party section of store) able to live. There may be a • lots of creativity and imagination connection to the first land

THE LAND INVASION — Animals Lumber onto Land 3 and ferns grew to enormous salamanders) were 20 feet! The POWER WORDS sizes, towering almost 100 feet Period also has the fossil • : an animal into the air. The first fossil evidence of the first amniote whose embryo are found during the egg. Birds, reptiles, and egg- develops in an amnion Devonian Period. laying mammals have amniote and chorion and has an took their first steps onto land. eggs. Non-amniote eggs must allantois; a , The earliest know tetrapod is be laid in water or damp places. bird, or rosae (drawing below). Amniote eggs are water proof, • e.g.: Latin exempli and also allow and gratia, for example gas exchange. • : group of Pretty neat! that includes all existing reptiles and (252-299 MYA): birds and their fossil The continents were on their ancestors, including the slow march towards colliding dinosaurs, the and forming the immediate ancestors of . The climate was birds drying, and the swamps gave • Synapsida: group of way to more desert-like amniotes that includes This animal is between lobe- landscapes. Conifers are not all existing mammals finned fish and . The dependent on water for and their fossil hind limbs were stronger and reproduction, like ferns are. The ancestors, including the larger than the front limbs. It plants shifted from former “mammal-like reptiles would pull itself along the bottom forests to dominant land. (e.g. sp. of its aquatic environment, but and Gorgonops sp.) also propel on land.

Carboniferous (299-359 MYA): Humid tropical swamps (formerly dominated this Period. Most of mammal-like reptiles) are the our oil and deposits were lineage to (eventually) laid down during this time from mammals, and the the massive vegetation. The Insects continued to diversify, sauropsids (formerly first fossil evidence of conifers and the first fossil evidence of reptiles)are the lineage to (e.g. pine ) is 300 MYA. piercing and sucking mouthparts dinosaurs, turtles, lizards, are found. crocodiles, and birds.

Most amazing are the The Paleozoic Era ended at synapsids and sauropsids. the end of Permian with the These are tetrapods that lead mass event, the to two different lines. The Great Dying. SOME MAMMAL ANCESTORS:

Animals grew to enormous sizes. had a 2.5 foot wingspan, were 6 feet long, 2.5 feet wide, and amphibians (, and

THE LAND INVASION — Dioramas 4

Building dioramas are the next summaries of the major POWER WORDS best thing to building a time features of the land during • contrast: strikingly machine! See for yourself what the Paleozoic. Fill in with different from the Paleozoic Era looked like. more specific information. something else Here’s how! • Verify that your website is • diorama: a model from either a university or representing a scene There are two types of natural history museum to with three-dimensional dioramas, each using a ensure that your information figures, either in different orientation of the box. is authentic. For example, miniature or as a large- One is the peephole diorama. the University of Michigan, scale museum exhibit; The advantage is a truly 3D the Smithsonian and the a scenic painting, world. American Museum of Natural viewed through a History have great peephole, in which information. changes in color and • The websites below were direction of illumination selected to give you ideas for simulate changes in the building each diorama’s weather, time of day, landscape, for example, etc. trees (website 8), horsetails • orientation: relative (very similar to bamboo position of something website 9), mountains (website 3, 4, and 5), or The other type of diorama is the water (website 6 and 7). The open box scene. It provides first website has complete directions for how to build a diorama, including selecting good boxes, and the second takes you from beginning to end on a Sierra Mountain 4. build the topography, diorama. It has lots of great the hills, mountains, tips for you. streams, etc. • The basic steps to building a 5. add water to streams, interest in the full scape. diorama: lakes, or oceans Using everyday materials, like 1. select a simple sturdy 6. add vegetation paper, paint, and pebbles, you shoe box with a lid 7. add animals can create wonderful dioramas! 2. paint the outside and • Start with the Cambrian. label what will be inside Take notes and make Directions: 3. Paint the interior of the sketches of the • Each shoebox represents a shoe box with the information as you find it. different Period in the background When you have enough Paleozoic Era: ○ Permian WEBSITES ○ How to: ○ Devonian 1. https://www.youtube.com/results? ○ Silurian search_query=Stephanie+Barnett+diorama ○ Ordovician ○ Cambrian Terrestrial 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ganUXUa0sw ○ Cambrian Ocean Topography: • Research information about 3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os1SA2ZpVdE each Period online. The 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK0XcoUX9u0 prior two pages are very brief 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm-wEpu1yBo

THE LAND INVASION — Dioramas 5

information about the poster paint, write the name POWER WORDS climate, landscape, plants of the Period (e.g. • corrugated : material, and animals, sketch what “Cambrian”). surface, or structure you would like your final • The directions are for the shaped into alternate diorama for that Period to open box diorama. If you ridges and grooves look like. want to make a peephole • topography: the • You can either complete diorama, you need to arrangement of the each diorama one at a time, constantly refer to close and natural and artificial or work on all six of them in far from the peephole. You physical features of an stages. For example, paint don’t want something large in area all of the boxes on the front blocking the view. outside, and allow them to • Paint the inside of the box dry. Label each of them a with the distant scene. different Period. Paint the Perhaps you are overlooking interior of the boxes. Build the ocean from a cliff. The the topography in all 7. We background would be the all approach creativity ocean, horizon, and sky. If differently, so approach you are looking inland, it these dioramas with what could be a distant mountain makes sense to you. range. • Select sturdy, simple • Create your topography for shoeboxes with lids. If each scene. For example, possible, use 7 identical website 2 uses plastic cups boxes. Shoe stores have that are then covered with

paper mâché. You can use recycled corrugated cardboard boxes cut to give the overall shape (image on left; see https:// tra.extension.colostate.ed u/stem-k12/stem- resources/ 47.Here Comes the Sun pages 19 -22 for directions), which can then be covered with paper mâché, aluminum foil, or homemade

Water: extra boxes, and will save them for you if you ask. 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwXBvc-FmhU 7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbjF4oaZ6hQ • Paint the outside of the shoebox with spray paint, Vegetation: poster (tempera) paint, or 8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdvwhJoYqAM wrap with paper, like a 9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw-CaMe6ltE present. Allow the paint to Paper Mâché Clay dry completely. Using a 10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YQ6eUqcEh8 contrasting color marker or

THE LAND INVASION — Dioramas 6

playdough (see https:// conifer forests during the POWER WORDS tra.extension.colostate.edu/ Permian. • foreground: the part of stem-k12/stem-resources/ • Add animals that were found a view that is nearest to 57.Paleontology 5, page 6 during that time, sculped the observer for directions to make from homemade playdough • teem: be full of or playdough). You can carve or paper mâché covered swarming with your terrain from recycled aluminum foil shaped like • terrain: a stretch of foam (website 11). these organisms. The land, especially with • Allow the paper mâché or websites below will get you regard to its physical playdough to dry completely started with fauna and flora. features before painting. • Paint your terrain. Websites The diorama below is from the 3, 6, and 10 have ideas. Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Also https://tra.extension. Pennsylvania. It depicts the colostate.edu/stem-k12/stem Permian with a Dimetrodon in -resources/ 42.Pigments has ideas for making your own paint pigments from natural sources, like our red rock mountains. There is also a Munsell color chart that you can use to get more realistic soil colors. • For the Cambrian terrestrial, you would stop here, since there were no land plants yet. Cambrian oceans teemed with life: hunted by , the meter-long top predator of the distant oceans, or with 5 eyes, and

the foreground. from the Paleozoic? No one For your Carboniferous Period knows. They could have had diorama, can you have a similar colors to similar suspended, as if it animals found today. were flying?

What colors were the animals Have fun! Learn lots! WEBSITES OF PALEOZOIC FAUNA , all spikes. • https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleozoic/paleozoic.php • The other Periods had plants, and you would • https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/paleozoic/paleozoiclife.html continue your terrestrial • https://www.livescience.com/37584-paleozoic-era.html dioramas with adding the • https://www.geol.umd.edu/~tholtz/G102/102epal2.htm vegetation models that were (these are lecture notes from Dr. Thomas Holtz. More present, like the enormous about him next month when we cover the , the horse tail forests of the time of dinosaurs!) Carboniferous and the

DNA — Extracting and Seeing Your Own DNA! 7

This month covers the basics of can spell out all the proteins that POWER WORDS DNA and RNA. It is necessary are needed to make a , • allele: one of two or background before exploring bread mold, or even you! more alternative forms how mutations are caused, and of a gene that arise by their impact. Directions: mutation and are found • Fill your glass half full with at the same place on a Variation within a is water (~1-1.5 ounces). Add chromosome—e.g. A, contained in the DNA of each 2 pinches of salt and mix B, AB, and O blood individual. The total population with the spoon until the salt types are alleles for of a species, with all the is dissolved. DNA and water blood variation in that population is are both polar. The salt • gene pool: the called the gene pool. For neutralized the water. collection of all alleles example, you can only inherit • Rub the swab on the inside for each gene in an two alleles for a blood type, but of your cheeks, tongue, and interbreeding there are three alleles. The gums for 1 minute. population human population gene pool • Swish water in your mouth, • mutation: changing the contains all three alleles. The then spit it back into the cup. structure of a gene, same is true for all genes. • Put the cotton swab in spit resulting in a variant water and stir to remove the form that may be DNA is highly organized, and cells on your swab. transmitted to offspring packed inside the membrane • Add 2 drops of liquid dish soap and GENTLY and DNA = SLOWLY mix with the spoon Deoxyribonucleic Acid to dissolve the dish soap into the solution without making RNA = any bubbles. The dish soap breaks the cell and nucleus Ribonucleic Acid membranes apart. • Add 2 pinches of meat sides of the cup. tenderizer and GENTLY and • Look carefully at SLOWLY mix with the spoon the point where to dissolve it into the the water and solution. The meat tenderizer alcohol meet— breaks the histones apart. you will start to • Let the cup rest undisturbed see something for 10 minutes. — that is your • Tilt the cup at an angle, and DNA! bound nucleus within the cell. add about 1 ounce of ice • You can pull All life needs water and has cold isopropyl alcohol your DNA out of DNA (some viruses have RNA (rubbing alcohol) by the liquid with a instead of DNA, and biologists GENTLY pouring it along the toothpick. argue if viruses are alive). MATERIALS • DNA is copied to RNA • Small clear glass or plastic cup 2-3 oz • RNA makes proteins • Spoon (plastic or metal) • Proteins build organelles • Water • Organelles are found in cells • Cotton swab that help the cell function • Salt • Cells build organisms • Drop of liquid dish soap

• Meat tenderizer DNA’s code is like an alphabet • 90 to 99% isopropyl alcohol in freezer (ice cold) that only has 4 letters. These 4 • toothpick letters, in different sequences,

DNA — Model Cellular Division Mitosis 8

DNA is in every cell in your body box to the right. POWER WORDS with one exception. Your red Directions: • centromere: the region blood cells (RBC) have a • Tear a large piece of wax on a chromosome that nucleus with DNA while being paper (the cell) and do all links sister chromatids made in your bone marrow. your work on it. during cell division Before they enter your blood • Make a large circle on the • chromatid: a replicated stream, the nucleus with the wax paper with the string. chromosome DNA is removed. Awesome! This represents the nucleus containing two identical DNA needs a lot of energy to membrane. Your Twizzler double strands of function. Energy requires lots of chromosomes will be placed DNA— sister oxygen molecules. If the RBCs inside the membrane. chromatids joined at do not have DNA, they don’t • Pick 3 red Twizzlers. Cut 1 their centromere need to use the oxygen. Twizzler in half. You have 4 • chromosome: a Instead, the RBC can carry that red Twizzler pieces, 2 whole threadlike structure of oxygen to all the other cells in and 2 half sticks. Use 1 long nucleic acids and your body to function. The white and 1 short, and set the protein found in the blood cells (WBC) have DNA in others aside for later. nucleus of most living the nucleus. WBC fight • Pick 3 blue Twizzlers. Cut 1 cells, carrying genetic diseases and parasites. When Twizzler in half. You have 4 information in the form you look at them in a blue Twizzler pieces, 2 whole of genes (diagram and microscope, the RBCs look like and 2 half sticks. Use 1 long image on bottom of a frisbee, and the WBCs look and 1 short, and set the page 10). like a ball. others aside for later. • mitosis: cell division • Red Twizzlers represent your that results in two mother’s chromosomes, and daughter cells each the blue Twizzlers represent having the same your father’s chromosomes. number and kind of The long Twizzlers are chromosomes as the Chromosome 1 and short parent nucleus Twizzlers represent • RBC: acronym for Red Chromosome 2. Blood Cell • Interphase: The cell spends Every cell in your body has two most of its time in copies of the DNA: one from Interphase. Very little time is chromosomes. your mother and the other from spent replicating. The cell ○ Page 10, Image 1. your father. There is one cannot function during ○ Match the identical exception: eggs and sperm only replication, so that happens length and color of have one copy of your DNA, quickly. The cell returns to a Twizzlers; place them inherited from both parents functioning state, but with together. You now randomly. A very special two copies of the have 2 long blue, 2 process of making reproductive cells helps to mix up the DNA MATERIALS and place only one set of • Twizzlers Rainbow Twists chromosomes into the nucleus • Scissors—wash with soap and water of those cells. • Wax paper

• String If you didn’t make the DNA • small rod-shaped candy like Mike and Ike or double helix model in with Good and Plenty marshmallows and licorice • Optional: copy of page 10 sticks, do that now. The website • 55.Paleonotology 3 page 18, https:// is listed in the Materials green tra.extension.colostate.edu/stem-k12/stem-resources/

DNA — Model Cellular Division Mitosis 9

long red, 2 short blue and chromatid pointing right, POWER WORDS 2 short red and the other pointing • centriole: a rod-shaped chromosomes. left. organelle in animal ○ Although not visible in a ○ Centrioles appear and cells involved in the microscope because the spindles attach to each development of spindle strands are too thin, the sister chromatid. fibers in cell division DNA has doubled. Each ○ Place 2 rod-shaped • centromere: the region chromosome is attached candy at right angles at of a chromosome to to the copy chromosome. each pole (left and right). which the microtubules The two chromosomes Attach another piece of of the spindle attach, are now called sister string from the candy to during cell division chromatids. Cut 4 each Twizzler where the • daughter cell: pieces of string about 6” string ties the sister two cells formed when long. Tie the 2 long red Twizzlers together. a cell undergoes cell together. Tie the 2 long • Anaphase: Sister chromatids division by mitosis blue together. Tie the 2 break at the centromere, • sister chromatids: short red together. Tie and the spindles pull each identical copies formed the 2 short blue together. chromatid to the opposite by the DNA replication The string represents the pole. of a chromosome, centromeres, or the ○ Page 10, Image 4. joined together by a place where the sister ○ Pulling on the string, common centromere move 1 long and 1 short • spindle: rope-like red and 1 long and 1 structure separating short blue to one side of chromosomes into the the wax paper, and move daughter cells during the remaining Twizzlers mitosis on the opposite side. chromatids are joined. • Telophase: Each side of the • Prophase: DNA condenses cell has identical DNA. The ○ Tear the wax paper in and the nucleus dissolves. Cell begins to pinch in the half between the ○ Page 10, Image 2. The center, called a cleavage Twizzlers at each end chromosomes contract furrow, until it pinches the of the wax paper. You and become visible in a cell into two cells. now have two pieces microscope. Place the ○ Page 10, Image 5. of wax paper (two Twizzlers in the shape of ○ Notice that both sides cells) each with a an “X”. have exactly the same complete set of ○ The membrane begins to color and length of chromosomes (long dissolve. Cut your string Twizzlers—they match. mother, long father, into tiny pieces and • Cytokinesis: The cell divides short mother and short remove. into two cells. father). • Metaphase: DNA lines up ○ Page 10, Image 6. • Interphase: The 2 cells along the center of the cell. ○ Page 10, Image 3. FUN FACTS: ○ Line all • Genes make up only about 3 percent of your paired DNA. Genes are short segments of DNA, but Twizzlers not all DNA is genes. All told, genes are only across the about 3 percent of your DNA. The rest of your center of DNA controls the activity of your genes. the wax paper with one sister

10 DNA — Model Cellular Division Mitosis are now identical to each other, and the cells spend most of their time in Interphase. Very little time is spent replicating. ○ Page 10, Image 1 (You are done with modeling Cell Division and Mitosis. Eat and Enjoy!) Image 1: The cell functions normally. Image 2: The DNA chromosomes Image 3: Chromosomes line up in the When the cell receives a message, condense, and are now visible. center of the cell. Sister chromatids the DNA is replicated very quickly, Nucleus membrane dissolves. (the replicated chromosomes) attach and the cell returns to normal to spindles, controlled by centrioles functions. at opposite poles of the cell.

Image 4: The sister chromosomes Image 5: Telophase completes cell Image 6: Late Telophase is also called break their connection at centromeres, division. During this phase, the Cytokinesis. The nucleus membrane and each is pulled in the opposite complete set of chromosomes are reforms around the DNA, and the two directions by the centrioles attached now on opposites sides of the cell. cells enter Interphase. Most of the to the spindles. Similar to a winch The cell begins to pinch between the life of the cell is spent in Interphase. (centrioles) and cable (spindles). two poles.

Diagram of a Chromosome: Scanning Electron Microscope: Diagram of a cell during mitosis:

DNA — Forensic Sequences 11

Paleontologists, systematic different. The fewer differences POWER WORDS biologists, and forensic in these regions of DNA, the • forensic: relating to scientists use DNA sequences more closely related two people scientific methods in to compare organisms. are, and the more mutations, the criminal investigations more distantly related. • nucleobase: the basic The first activity on DNA structural unit of DNA, sequences simulates how a Scientists collect, extract, and comprised of four forensic scientist prepares two isolate specific sites of DNA. If molecules: adenine (A), suspects’ DNA to compare to there is only a single sample (for thymine (T), guanine DNA found at a crime scene. example a single skin cell) they (G), and cytosine (C) Forensic scientists do not need use a process called PCR • replication: the action to know the specific sequence of (Polymerase Chain Reaction) of copying or nucleobases. The second that works like a photocopier reproducing something activity simulates how scientists making millions of DNA copies. • restriction enzyme: code DNA to actually read the bacterial enzyme that sequence of nucleobases After extracting DNA, scientists cuts specific DNA sites ATGC (adenine, thymine, add a restriction enzyme. When • systematics: study of guanine, and cytosine). the diversification of Look at your model of DNA past and present living made from toothpicks, colored forms and relationships mini marshmallows, and licorice through time sticks (https:// • transcription: the tra.extension.colostate.edu/stem process which -k12/stem-resources/ information in a DNA 55.Paleonotology 3, page 18). strand is copied into a The business end of DNA is new molecule RNA between the two marshmallows on a single toothpick. The backbone is the licorice. DNA is bacteria are infected with called a double helix structure viruses, they make because there are two strands restriction enzymes. These of DNA that weakly bind enzymes recognize specific together with hydrogen bonds sequences of nucleobases (double), and it twists like a cork (the DNA molecules ATGC), screw (helix). Transcription or and cut viral DNA into replication (first step in pieces, protecting the mitosis) in DNA starts by bacteria. Scientists use separating the weak bonds. bacteria restriction These bonds are similar to weak enzymes to cut the DNA at magnets. Large molecules specific spots all along the insert between the two strands and read the sequence of MATERIALS nucleobases. The weak • Scissors hydrogen bonds then zip back • Print page 13 and 14 together. • Tape

We inherit our parent’s DNA, including junk DNA. Junk DNA doesn’t code for anything. Identical twins have exactly the same DNA, but over time, their junk DNA will become slightly

DNA — Forensic Sequences 12 strand. After the DNA is cut into the ends together correctly. fragments, scientists load each These represent the same sample of DNA into a well on a junk DNA for 3 people. gel. Using electricity, the • Match a restriction enzyme Results different fragments separate. EXACTLY to the junk DNA The larger the fragment, the strand and tape the harder it is to move through the restriction enzyme on top of gel, and it will remain closer to the matching sequence. For the well. The smaller fragments example, the yellow strand of DNA move much more sequence begins with quickly through the gel, and they GGTGCCATTGGG. The will be further from the well. (see restriction enzyme ATTGG image in the green box below). matches the underlined

Because each person’s junk DNA has a different sequences, the restriction enzymes will cut it differently forming different length fragments. The DNA fingerprint is the pattern those portion of that sequence. fragments form on the gel. • Tape the restriction enzyme over the ATTGG on the yellow DNA strand. • Cut where indicated on the restriction enzyme between

and G (ATT cut GG). • Count the number of nucleobases you have on each fragment and the T and G. For example, record the number on the first yellow fragment is 9 each fragment. Directions: nucleobases long. • Cut the strips of paper that • Continue to tape the represent DNA sequences restriction enzymes over all blue, yellow, purple, and the yellow, blue, purple, and grey. Cut out the green grey DNA strands. • Fold the fragments to fit restriction enzymes • Cut the restriction enzyme (picture labeled “results” “ATTGG.” (and the DNA) between the T above) and tape closed.

DNA is too small to see. This activity models how scientists make DNA fingerprints. In this image, we can see the DNA bands in each column, dyed • Tape the same color strips to make them visible. together, being sure to match The first column is the ladder, and the top row holds the wells where DNA is deposited. DNA in each well moves down from the negative charge at the top, separating by segment length. Gel Electrophoresis

DNA — Forensic Sequences 13 Electrophoresis Rig Ladder Crime Scene DNA Blue DNA Well Yellow DNA Well Purple DNA Well • DNA is loaded on a gel in wells at the 66 top. The paper gel has the ladder on 63 the left and the four wells (grey, blue, 60 yellow, and purple) on top. 57 • DNA travels from the well down towards the bottom 54 of the gel, depending on the 51 number of nucleobases in 48 each fragment. • The ladder 45 indicates how far fragments will 42 travel. Grey fragments will be in the grey column, 39 blue fragments in the blue column, 36 yellow fragments in the yellow column, 33 and the purple fragments in the 30 purple column. • Each fragment 27 travels down its column, and ends where indicated on 24 the ladder. Notice the 9 nucleobase 21 yellow fragment aligns to the 9 on 18 the ladder. • The DNA at the 15 crime scene is in column 1, the grey 12 DNA. Which suspect, yellow or purple, matched 9 the crime scene DNA? 9 • DNA fingerprint that matches the 3 crime scene DNA is still a suspect. The others are eliminated.

DNA — Forensic Sequences 14

Totalenzymes 8 5 nucleobases long

Suspect Suspect 1 Suspect 2 Suspect 3 Crime SceneDNA RestrictionEnzymes

DNA — Phylogenetic Sequences 15

Forensic scientists use sections POWER WORDS of DNA that are not genes. The DNA sample is put into a • chromatogram: visible They are minisatellites. These machine that reads the record (e.g. series of sections of DNA can freely sequence of the dyes. Below is colored bands) showing mutate with no ill effects. Even an image of the chromatogram the result of separation identical twins, with identical results. The bumps are colored. of the components of a DNA, can eventually have their The higher the bump, the more mixture minisatellites vary differently. confidence that the color is chromatography Forensics scientists call this a correct. A read-out of the ATGC • homologous: similar in DNA fingerprint. sequences is above the bumps. position, structure, and It starts with ACCAAA… origin but not Phylogenetic scientists are necessarily in function looking for deep relationships The sequences are then loaded • minisatellite: section of among the organisms they into a computer program that DNA with a high study. They select genes that analyzes them to each other. mutation rate, a specific may mutate occasionally, or The more differences in the sequence of between ones that are parts of the nucleobases, the more time 10-60 base pairs, and genome that are extremely has passed, and the more repeating 5-50 times stable, depending on their distantly related they are. The • phylogenetic: relating questions. Instead of short results are then produced as to the gradual fragments, phylogenetic phylogenetic trees (more details development and scientists use long sequences to than cladograms but the same diversification of a species or group of organisms, or of a particular feature of an organism

basic technique). Both and cladogram graphs were covered in earlier issues (https:// tra.extension.colostate.edu/ stem-k12/stem-resources/, 55.Paleontology 3 and 56.Paleontology 4).

The last step is to interpret the graph, answering the question posed at the beginning of this experiment. better align different organisms. The double helix is separated. MATERIALS Dye is added to the solution, • print page 16 and each nucleobase attaches • pencil to a different color dye: • adenine—green dye • thymine—red dye • guanine—black dye • cytosine—blue dye

DNA — Phylogenetic Sequences 16

1 Directions:

Rank • Chromatograms were developed for the seven

0

# species, and the following nucleobases were

C C C C C C

C aligned and placed in a table (to the left).

G G G G G G

G • Each row is a different species, and each column

A A

C C C C

C are the homologous nucleobases.

T T

G G G G

G • The blue shaded row is the tunicate, an organism

G G G G G G

G that shares the common ancestor with .

C C C C C C

C • Go through each column and compare the

homologous nucleobases of the other 6 species

C C C C

G G G

(coqui , green hoary bat, human, sea turtle,

T T T T

C C C

wallaby, and yellowfin tuna). If the nucleobase is

A A A

G G G G

different, circle it with a pencil. As an example, the

C C C C

G G G

green sea turtle’s fourth nucleobase, circled in

A A A

C C C C

gold, is different than the Tunicate nucleobase.

T T T T

A A

A • When you have circled the nucleobases that are

T T T T T T

T different, count the total changes for each species

C C C C C C

C in the row, and record in the table.

G G G G G G

G • Complete the cladogram below. If you don’t

A A A A A A

G remember how, directions are located in https://

T T T T T T

T tra.extension.colostate.edu/stem-k12/stem-

G G G G G G

G resources/, 55.Paleontology 3, pg. 12-17.

T T T T T T C

Answer on page 34.

A A A A A A

C

T

C C C C C C

T T T T T T

G

Tunicate

T T T T T T

C

DNA DNA Sequences

A A A A

C C C

A A A A

C C

C

T T T T T T

T

T T T T T T

T

T T

G G G G

G Number Different Nucleotides

A A

C C C C C

G G G G G G G

A A A A A A A

1

T T

A A A A A

Rank Rank

T T

A A A A A

(lowhigh) to

T T

A A A A A

T T T T T T

G

T T T T T T

C

A A A A A A

C

0

A A A A A A

G

Number Number

Different Different

T T T T

A A A

Nucleobases

T T T

A A A A

T T T T T T T

G G G G G G G

Organism

Tunicate (Ancestor) frog Coqui Green sea turtle bat Hoary Human Wallaby Yellowfin tuna

Organism Tunicate Ancestor Coquifrog Greensea turtle Hoarybat Human Wallaby tuna Yellowfin

DNA AND RNA — Tutorial 17

DNA Structure: clones of all their ancestor cells. Structure of DNA: Molecular biology studies DNA They can swap some of their These 4 nucleobases and cellular functions. This is a DNA (horizontal gene transfer) always pair: adenine pairs quick guide to the scientific with another bacterium, but that only with thymine (AT), and concepts and vocabulary. You is an infrequent process. A guanine pairs only with can use this as a reference. bacterium’s genome has about cytosine (GC). The pairs 5% that is foreign DNA. are held together by DNA is the key to life. It is vital Compare that to your DNA, and hydrogen bonds. These for paleontologists to half is from your mother, and are weak bonds that act like understand. DNA, half is from your father. weak magnets. unfortunately, is very fragile. It breaks down, and the oldest The eukaryote chromosome is On the diagram below, notice known DNA sequences are linear, and there are two copies that there are three dotted 700,000 years old from a horse. of chromosomes, one from the lines between cytosine and mother and the other from the guanine, and two dotted lines Two cell types are prokaryote father. Organisms with between thymine and (bacteria and archaea) eukaryote cells have sexual adenine. That represents 3 reproduction, so there are two hydrogen bonds between G sets of chromosomes in every and C, but only two hydrogen cell. What do you think are the bonds between A and T. advantages of this system? DNA is called a double

Bacteria and archaea are fascinating, and have the exact same 4 nucleobases, adenine, and eukaryote (protists, fungi, thymine, plants and animals). guanine, and cytosine (ATGC) as organisms with eukaryote cells. COMPARISON PROKARYOTE CELL EUKARYOTE CELL Size 0.5-5.0μm 10-100μm DNA circular chromosome 1 set linear chromosome 2 sets (mom & dad) Organized naked bound by histones Replication binary fission mitosis/miosis Nucleus no present Cell Wall yes yes, but not for all cells The bacterial chromosome is Ribosomes yes yes circular, and there is only one copy of it. Bacterial cells are Organelles no present

DNA AND RNA — Tutorial 18 helix . It has two strands of DNA Transcription to RNA: SUGAR PHOSPHATE bound by the hydrogen bonds. For DNA to be used in BACKBONE The nucleobases ATGC are in replication (in preparation of • DNA is composed of the center. Each strand has a making a new cell, the first step atoms that form specific backbone. to protect it. is to copy all of the DNA) or structures. The sugar The sugar phosphate backbone transcription (making the phosphate backbone is directional. The side that complementary copy of the refers to the atomic DNA) the hydrogen bonds structure of DNA that unzip, and the nucleobases are does not contain genes. exposed. • In chemistry, sugar refers to a group of ATGC are like letters in an molecules that contain alphabet. They spell out carbon, oxygen, and directions for making all the hydrogen. There are organisms on Earth. DNA is many different kinds of fragile. To help protect it, only sugar. The sugar in the copies are made from it. It is sugar phosphate like the genome is the reference backbone is a 5 carbon book and the nucleus is the sugar. library. Just like a library, you • Phosphate is another cannot check out a reference element. The book. This helps to protect the phosphate is bonded DNA from being damaged. with several oxygen starts is called Instead you can make a copy to atoms. 5’ (5 prime), and take with you. That is exactly the end of the what your cell does. backbone is 3’ (3 prime). The DNA The nucleus is packed full of is always read DNA, nucleobases, RNA, and from 5’ to 3’, just different huge molecules that like we read from have different functions. For left to right. It example, there are many looks like a molecules maintaining DNA ladder, with and making repairs. If you look ATGC in a microscope at a cell’s nucleobases nucleus, there is a dark area forming the called the nucleolus. This is a steps, and the region of DNA that is constantly backbone forms being transcribed. the rails. Adenine pairs only with

Finally, DNA twists, so the Human Karyotype: Chromosomes paired: entire structure Note the last is spiraled. chromosome Helix means pair identify as spiraled. XY. That means a male. Females are DNA XX.

DNA AND RNA — Tutorial 19 thymine, and guanine pairs only U A C C G G U G G A A C HOW EXPERIMENTS with cytosine in DNA? One side The A is paired with U, and the BECOME SCIENCE of the DNA is (for example): G is paired with C. • Scientists read peer- A T G G C C A T C C T T G reviewed journal and the complementary side is: RNA polymerase (RNAP) is a articles, and their work T A C C G G T A G G A A C. macromolecule that finds the must incorporate those recognition site at the start of a articles. This brings up A paper from 2017 by Dan gene. The RNA polymerase questions. Graur found at least 75% of the lands, unwinds the DNA helix • They design and human genome was junk DNA. about one twist, and unzips the conduct an experiment Less than 25% of the genome DNA. It only reads one strand of to answer their testable contains genes. The genes can the DNA from 5’ to 3’. The other questions. be located on either strand of strand can be junk DNA, part or • When the collection the double helix. all the DNA of another gene. portion is complete, The growing strand of pre-RNA they analyze the data to RNA has a slight variation. is the compliment of DNA strand answer their questions. Guanine and cytosine still pair, being read by RNAP. • They write the entire but adenine pairs with a different study with the answers nucleobase uracil (U) instead of The mRNA is edited. Some they found as a article. thymine. Uracil is less stable sections of nucleobases are • They submit it to a than thymine. That makes removed and the RNA is spliced scientific journal to be sense. together. The front end of published. mRNA is “capped” (5’ cap or • The journal's editors send the article to other scientists who work in the same field (i.e., the "peers" of peer review). • The peers accept, accept with revisions, or reject the article. • If accepted, the article is published.

RNA cap), and the 3’ end has a poly-A tail added (100 -250 adenine nucleobases). After editing, the strand is now mRNA.

DNA is stable (thymine is more FUN FACTS: stable), and mRNA needs to • Your DNA could stretch from the Earth to the break down quickly (uracil is Sun and back ~600 times. If unwound and less stable). RNA has 4 linked together, the strands of DNA in each of nucleobases, G pairs with C, your cells would be 6 feet long. With 100 trillion however A pairs with U. In this cells in your body, that means if all your DNA example, the DNA is: were put end-to-end, it would stretch over 110 A T G G C C A C C T T G billion miles. and the complementary RNA is:

DNA RNA Protein — Power Words 20

POWER WORDS held to determine some FUN FACTS: • characteristic of the 5’ cap: (said as “5 prime • The human genome cap”) also RNA cap; offspring; a distinct contains 3 billion base specially altered nucleotide sequence of nucleotides pairs of DNA. DNA to the 5' end of pre-mRNA forming part of a molecules are shaped vital to developing the chromosome, the order of like twisted mature mRNA which is then which determines the order ladders. And the rungs able to undergo translation of monomers in a on that ladder are made • amino acid: the building polypeptide or nucleic acid of bases – adenine (A), blocks of proteins; a simple molecule which a cell (or cytosine (C), guanine organic compound virus) may synthesize. (G), and thymine (T) – containing both a carboxyl • genome: the haploid set of locked together in pairs (—COOH), an amino (— chromosomes in a gamete or with hydrogen bonds. NH2) group, and a unique microorganism, or in each The really cool part is, side chain cell of a multicellular they pair up in a very • chromosome: a threadlike organism specific way: ‘A’ always structure of nucleic acids and • haploid: having a single set pairs with ‘T,’ and ‘C’ protein found in the nucleus of unpaired chromosomes always pairs with ‘G.’ of most living cells, carrying • horizontal gene transfer: genetic information in the also called lateral gene form of genes transfer; the process of • clone: an organism or cell, swapping genetic material or group of organisms or between neighboring cells, produced asexually “contemporary” bacteria from one ancestor or stock, • hydrogen bond: a weak to which they are genetically bond between two molecules identical resulting from an • codon: a sequence of three electrostatic attraction nucleotides which together between a proton in one synthetic polymer form a unit of genetic code in molecule and an • messenger RNA: the a DNA or RNA molecule electronegative atom in the form of RNA in which • complementary: (of gene other genetic information sequences, nucleotides, etc.) • junk DNA: genomic DNA transcribed from DNA as related by the rules of base that does not encode a sequence of bases is pairing proteins, and whose function, transferred to a ribosome • cytoplasm: the material or if it has one, is not well • molecular: relating to or protoplasm within a living understood consisting of molecules cell, excluding the nucleus • macromolecule: a molecule • molecule: a group of • diploid: containing two containing a very large atoms bonded together, complete sets of number of atoms, such as a representing the smallest chromosomes, one from protein, nucleic acid, or fundamental unit of a each parent. • double helix: a pair of parallel spirals intertwined FUN FACTS: about a common axis, • We’re all 99.9 percent alike. Of the 3 billion especially that in the base pairs in the human genome, only 0.1% structure of the DNA are unique to us. While that 0.1% is still what molecule makes us unique, it means we’re all • gene: a unit of heredity more similar than we are different. which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is

DNA RNA Protein — Power Words 21

chemical compound that can acids and are an essential FUN FACTS take part in a chemical part of all living organisms, • Proteins, lipids, reaction especially as structural carbohydrates, and • mRNA: acronym for components of body tissues nucleotides are the 4 messenger RNA such as muscle, , macromolecules that • nucleobase: also known as collagen, etc., and as are necessary to build nitrogenous bases or often enzymes and antibodies any organism simply bases, are nitrogen- • protoplasm: the colorless ○ carbohydrates are containing biological material comprising the living used for energy, compounds Adenine, part of a cell, including the and can be broken Thymine, Guanine, Thymine, cytoplasm, nucleus, and down to glucose, a and Uracil (the nucleobase other organelles simple sugar is green in the image below) • recognition site: also called ○ lipids make • nucleoside: a nucleobase recognition sequence; membranes, and linked to a sugar molecule located on DNA are similar to (the sugar molecule is yellow chromosomes at the vegetable oil in in the image below, so both beginning of genes, it has a molecular structure the green and blue comprise specific sequence of ○ nucleotides: DNA the nucleoside) nucleobases recognized by and RNA • nucleotide: a compound the RNA polymerase for the ○ proteins provide consisting of a nucleoside beginning of transcription cellular structure • replication: the action of and function copying or reproducing something • ribosome: consisting of RNA and proteins found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer messenger RNA linked to a phosphate group. RNA to synthesize • translation: process by Nucleotides form the basic polypeptides and proteins which a protein is structural unit of nucleic • RNA cap: see 5’ cap synthesized from the acids such as DNA (the • RNA polymerase: information contained in a phosphate group is blue in macromolecule that molecule of mRNA the image below—the entire transcribes DNA to pre-RNA • transport RNA: RNA structure is the nucleotide) • RNAP: acronym for RNA molecule that helps • organelle: any of a number polymerase decode a messenger of organized or specialized • transcription: process by RNA (mRNA) sequence structures within a living cell which the information in a into a protein • poly-A tail: also called strand of DNA is copied into • tRNA: acronym for polyadenylation; addition of a new molecule of transport RNA 100-250 adenine bases (A) FUN FACTS to the 3’ end of pre-RNA • A parent and child share 99.5% of the same • pre-RNA: the rough draft of DNA. RNA—the direct • You have 98% of your DNA in common with a complementary copy of RNA chimpanzee. from DNA during • Humans and cabbage share about 40-50% transcription common DNA. • protein: organic compounds • If you could type 60 words per minute, eight that consist of large hours a day, it would take approximately 50 molecules composed of one years to type the human genome. or more long chains of amino

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 22

This is the final step in You certainly do not need to find FASCINATING FACTS developing your Paleozoic Era every single organism on this • Anomalocaris was originally timeline. In this activity, you will list, but you may...just may...get found as separate pieces. explore the internet to locate the pulled into this incredible time! It The claws by the mouth oldest record known of various is, after all, the closest thing we were thought to be shrimp. organisms from this time period. do have to a time machine. So, You will find out some basic get ready for wonder! information about them, and track the range of time (if you This list does not include can find it) that they lived. trilobites, because they were the focus of last month’s activities on speciation. They are amazing animals. If you touch a The tail was similar to a , you are probably lobster tail. The mouthpart holding an animal that lived at is unique. It was first least 250 million years ago! It identified as a does not include bacteria, (below)! Scientists think that archaea, protists (organisms the mouth closed like the with eukaryote cells, but they drawstring on a bag. Scary!

Opabinia fossil and computer generated image are mostly single celled organisms), or fungi. These organisms were certainly there in abundance. There are some plants in the table, but most of the organisms are animals.

Put on your “This is Truly Amazing” hat, and get ready for wonder! tape or glue it on the right edge of the Directions: timeline (best option • Hopefully you still have room to keep all the The diversity of life is truly on your timeline between information easy to wondrous. Every Era has climate, continental access) amazing, weird and wonderful formations, and trilobite ○ Redraw the Paleozoic (even terrifying) animals. It speciation to include the Era’s Periods on the seems that during the Cambrian amazing organisms that lived back of the timeline Explosion, there were amazing during the Paleozoic Era. If (Cambrian, experiments in body plans, like not, you could: Ordovician, Silurian, the 5-eyed Opabinia. Some ○ Use additional paper and Devonian, were very successful, and others disappeared, not even leaving a fossil. MATERIALS • your Phanerozoic Eon timeline • sharpies or markers in a variety of colors • pencil • yardstick or meterstick • computer with internet • printer (color optional) • glue stick or tape • print pages 24-29 double-sided Anomalocaris canadensis meter long predator • art supplies (optional)

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 23

Carboniferous, Permian; document. Do not tape or POWER WORDS not the best solution, but glue down anything yet. • vertical: up and down it will work) Wait until you have line; a right angle to the • The list of organisms is not completed your table and horizontal plane; in a comprehensive by any images of all the organisms direction such that the means, but it includes a you are adding to your top is directly below the variety of animals and plants. timeline. bottom • The table on page 24 has • Once you are done, place all one of the first fossils found the images in the correct for representatives of the Period. Arrange them until Permian Late & Middle Permian: vertebrate groups and some you like how it looks. 252 - 299 Equatorial MYA invertebrate groups. Include Tape or glue all your disappeared as deserts spread each of those on your images. across central Pangea. Thoug h the southern timeline. • Include information (like ice sheets were Carbonife gone, an ice cap • The table includes additional size) by each image. rous covered the Upper North species. Select at least 2 • If you found the range the (Pennsylv Pole. Rainfore

organisms from each group. species fossils lived, you Carbonife rous Complete the table. can indicate that with a Lower (Mississip sts covered South as pian) • Search the internet to locate vertical line that starts at it crossed the

323 - 359 Equator. Profallotaspis an image and information their first (origin) fossil MYA

about each organism. occurrence, and their last

• Copy / paste the image to a (extinction) fossil jakutensis word document, and resize it occurrence. Use the yard Devonian Early Permian: Much of the to fit on your timeline. For or meter stick to connect 359 - 419 Southern MYA Hemisphere

example, you could make the origin and extinction was covered by Oldest trilobite 521 MYA: MYA: 521 trilobite Oldest ice as your images each 3” x 3” (or points. The diagram of the pushed so). Since that does not timeline has the Class convey the proper scale, Trilobita origin and Silurian 417 - 443 note the size next to the extinction indicated by the MYA

image. Examples: green-blue arrow. Paleozoic Paleozoic Era ○ Anomalocaris was the Ordovicia n 443 - major predator of the 485 MYA Cambrian oceans, and almost 1 meter (1 yard). ○ Marrella splendens (the Keep your timeline Cambrian lace crab; not a crab or until next month. You 485 - 540 even a ) was 2 will be completing the MYA cm (less than an inch). Mesozoic Era. • As you collect images of each organism, be sure to identify it on your word

FUN FACTS

Fossil evidence for Pangaea includes the presence of similar and

identical species on continents that are now great distances

apart. For example, fossils of the have been found in South Africa, India and , alongside members of the Glossopteris flora, whose distribution would have ranged from the polar circle to the equator if the continents had been in their present position; similarly, the freshwater reptile has been found in only localized regions of the coasts of Brazil and West Africa.

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 24

instead)

” ”

division

Size

2.5 (1 cm inch)

: an expert or student in the the student expert : or in an

: a principal taxonomic category : acategory principal taxonomic

Class

botanist of scientificplants study kingdom andbelow class that above ranks (botanistsword the use

Power Words: Power • •

Agnatha

Phylum

Chordata

(plural of phylum). Search foras phylum).(pluralof Search

Time Range Time

525 MYA (no range 525 (no MYA given)

phyla phyla

First Fossil First Evidence the Paleozoic in Era

Period

Cambrian

had at least 6, and perhaps 9 gills. 9 perhaps6, and least at had

like like

-

finned: finned:

-

finned: finned:

-

Ichthyostega Ichthyostega

Ophiacodon

Calamites Cordaites

Archaefructus Glossopteris

Cladoselache

Organism

Include all of the organisms in this table on your timeline. They represent the They timeline. your table in Include on this organisms the all of in the major fossils some oldest the of to able not may be table. You your findcomplete to ascan you much information that cell blank. Leave findeverything. species; e.g. each informationabout table, include Oninteresting your of back the Haikouichthys

aikouichthys

bony fish lobe fish bony Example: jawless fish: Example: jawless H : bonyfishray Entelognathus Luckeus Amphibia: Sauropsida(reptile): Isisfordia Synapsida(mammal reptile): Plants: Plants: Plants: Plants:

• •

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 25

Interesting Facts Interesting

First Fossil Paleozoic Evidence the First in Era

Found in the Chengjiang fauna in China. Animal has at least 6 (perhaps 9) bills. Had fins similar to lampreys. and similar fins 9) bills. 6Had leastat (perhaps has China. Animal fauna Foundin in Chengjiang the

like like

-

finned:

-

finned: finned:

-

Ichthyostega Ichthyostega

Ophiacodon

Calamites Cordaites

Archaefructus Glossopteris

Cladoselache

Organism

aikouichthys

Example: jawless fish: Example: jawless H shark: bonyfishray Entelognathus bonyfishlobe Luckeus Amphibia: Sauropsida(reptile): Isisfordia Synapsida(mammal reptile): Plants: Plants: Plants: Plants:

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 26

Size

Class

Phylum

Time Range Time

First Fossil Paleozoic Evidence the First in Era

Period

Organism

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 27

Interesting Facts Interesting

First Fossil Paleozoic Evidence the First in Era

Organism

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 28

Size

Class

Phylum

Time Range Time

First Fossil Paleozoic Evidence the First in Era

Period

Organism

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 29

Interesting Facts Interesting

First Fossil Paleozoic Evidence the First in Era

Organism

PALEOZOIC ERA — Complete the Timeline 30

On the right is a list of color-coded animals. Directions: • Baragwanathia Each color represents a different group. • Copy the name of • Cooksonia Pick at least two animals in each color the fossil, and paste • Distomodus group to include in your timeline. Write their into your search • Eurypterus name in the first column, research, and engine. That will • Herrmannina complete the table. Include a small image begin your journey • Parioscorpio of either a rendition drawing or the fossil to into the life of the • add to the timeline. Decorate the remaining Paleozoic! • Poraspis space with images you made in your • To gain a better • dioramas. understanding of the • Silurian trilobite wonderful and When you have completed your Paleozoic bizarre animals and Devonian—select at Era, tape your tables to the back of your plants from the past, least two of the timeline. Since they are two sided, only check them all out. following: tape a single side of the table, so you can • Add at least two of • Asteroxylon look at the backside of the paper without these species for (formerly removing any tape. each Period on your Thursophyton) time line. • Doliodus Before ending this issue, I ran across the • HAVE FUN! • two most awesome 3D paper models of • Maldybulakia Cambrian animals! Cambrian—select at • Pseudobornia least two of the • Stereolasma Trilobite from the British Geological Survey following: • Tiktaalik (includes a how-to video): https:// • Anomalocaris • Trigonotarbia www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/time/puppets/ • Burgessochaeta • Devonian trilobite trilobite.html • Eoconodontus • Hallucigenia Carboniferous—select • Lingula (WOW!) at least two of the • Marrella following: • Opabinia • Amphibiamus

• Pikaia • Archimedes

• Arthropleura • Cambrian trilobite • Fenestella • Hylonomus Ordovician—select at • Lebachia least two of the • Meganeura following: • Pseudostaffella • Astraspis • Carboniferous • Discoceras trilobite Anomalocaris (directions are in Japanese, • Eocarcinosoma but with the pictures, you can make this! :) • Hiscobeccus Permian—select at • Iocrinus least two of the • liverwort (fossil following: evidence are 473- • Actinocrinites 471 MYA spore from • Alexandrinia Argentina) • Dimetrodon • • Protaraea • Gorgonops (WOW!) • Ordovician trilobite • Hollinella • Moschops Silurian—select at least • Permarachne two of the following: • a Permian trilobite

CAREER CONNECTIONS — Develop a Project 31

In this ’s ST[EMpower] Look at your ranking. What are IINTERESTING CAREER issues, you took and analyzed your top 3 or 4 categories? For FACTS an interest survey. You also example, my top 4 are Animals • Nearly 80% of American took a personality test. You can and Nature, Math, Science, and workers are dissatisfied keep all your information in a Travel. I love my job, and it with their jobs. career journal. You need your incorporates all four of those • For every 1,470 career information and your interests. I am a paleontologist resumes, an employer journal for this activity. and I travel throughout the USA will hire one person. and to collect • The career of "data If you haven’t completed these data on how a variety of different scientist" has been yet, the are located here: https:// ancient mammals walked. judged one of the most tra.extension.colostate.edu/stem lucrative and attractive -k12/stem-resources/ Personality tests provide insight careers of the 21st • 53 Paleontology 1: Interest in how you perceive the world, century. Data scientists Survey starting on page 31 and how those perceptions analyze information, • 54 Paleontology 2: Interest influence your decisions. One of such as market and Survey Results starting on the first and most famous tests statistical trends, in page 50 is Myer-Briggs, that evaluates order to help their companies make sound • 55 Paleontology 3: Military responses on a scale of 4 decisions and different criteria: Career Interest Survey on investments. “E” Extraversion—“I” Introversion page 22 (optional for this • Physicians, pharmacists, “S” Sensing—“N” Intuition activity) nurse practitioners, and “T” Thinking—“F” Feeling • 56 Paleontology 4: physician's assistants “J” Judgement—“P” Perception Personality Test on page 14 are some of the highest

• 57 Paleontology 5: Career paid jobs in the United Satisfaction on page 24 The tests then provides a 4 States. letter code with 16 different combinations: The interest survey analyzed Believe it or not, this is the twelve broad categories: ESTJ ENTJ ISTJ INTJ first step in exploring a • Adventure ESTP ENTP ISTP INTP satisfying career! In this • Animals and Nature ESFJ ENFJ ISFJ INFJ activity, you will select a • Art ESFP ENFP ISFP INFP project (or develop your own) • Business to explore these aspects of • Computers What is your personality test result? who you are. • Math • Music and Dance ______Awesome! • Science

• Sports This month’s career project is to Pick at least one of the • Talking further incorporate both your following and explore the • Travel personality and interests. ideas further. • Writing

IINTERESTING CAREER FACTS What are your four top ranked • Teachers in the United States make around interests from your quiz results: $58,000 per year, on average. • Around 2.05 million farms are in operation in the 1. United States (2017) with 3.2 million farmers. • Approximately 99% of American farms are run 2. by farming families. Farming and ranching families make up around 2% of the US population. 3. • Around 15.2% of the American workforce works for the public sector. 4.

CAREER CONNECTIONS — Develop a Project 32

• What are your very favorite IINTERESTING CAREER books, movies, and TV FACTS shows? Why? What are the • What are the common common threads? Write criteria for a great them down. Look at your top career? People who interest categories, and how rate job satisfaction do they relate to each other? high have these in • Write a story about yourself common: set in 2030. What are you ○ Work that is doing? How are you doing Is your favorite place in engaging it? Be as wildly creative as wild Colorado camping, ○ Work that benefits you like in your story. hiking, or hunting? other people • Design something using ○ Work that you are recycled materials. This family camping trip, or good at project can be anything from traveling to other states or ○ Flexibility in how designing artwork to a robot foreign countries. Plan the and where you work that plays with your cat. How perfect vacation. Where ○ Chance for meaning did this project relate to your would you go? What would collaborations top interests? you do? How much does it ○ Low number of • Keep a journal to track your cost? How does this relate negatives like: activities over the course of to your top interest - A long commute the month. Set it up with the categories? - Unpredictable or amount of time at each task • Design your own adventure! long work hours (including your chores). At Be sure that what you do - No recognition the end of the month, add up really is exciting to you. How - Feeling like you the time it takes for each (i.e. does it relate to your top are in danger 143 hours for school). Even interest categories? with the tasks we have to do, some are enjoyable. Note the activities that you enjoyed doing during the “have to” time. Next look at your free time. How did you spend it? What was the most enjoyable to you? Do you see a pattern emerge? • You can work with 3 other friends on this idea. Develop a themed day for younger 4- Which section of the library is H members. For example, your favorite? That is a clue! present the 4-H day with one activity from each of the IINTERESTING CAREER FACTS Head, Hand, Heart, and

Health. Each one of you presents your activity to Ten traits for career success: younger members. What did ○ Positive Attitude ○ Adaptability ○ Persistent you like best about this? ○ Enthusiastic ○ Ethical ○ Self-Aware • Some of your favorite ○ Goal Focused ○ Self-Disciplined activities may not happen ○ Good Listener ○ Self-Confident weekly, or even monthly. They can include the annual

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CITATIONS 33

AUTHORS • Dr. Barbara J. Shaw, Colorado State University Extension Western Region Youth Development 4-H STEM K/12 Specialist • Tom Lindsay, retired Portland State University instructor ( and paleontology); HS science teacher (AP and IB Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Calculus)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS • Funding for this project provided by Colorado State University System Venture Capital Fund • CJ Mucklow, Colorado State University Extension Western Regional Director • Dr. Joe Cannon and Marketing Strategies students Berlyn Anderson, Jenna Balsley, Rachel Kassirer, Rachel Richman, Colorado State University, College of Business, for marketing strategies and ST[EMpower] graphics • Doug Garcia, Colorado State University Creative Services Communication Coordinator/ Designer

CITATIONS Information: • First plants / ice age: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21417-first-land-plants-plunged-earth-into-ice-age/ • Paleozoic Dioramas: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21417-first-land-plants-plunged-earth-into-ice-age/; https:// www.livescience.com/43514-silurian-period.html; https://www.astrobio.net/also-in-news/oldest-land-animal-fossil-found/; https:// www.livescience.com/43596-devonian-period.html ; https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/carboniferous/carboniferous.php; https:// www.livescience.com/43219-permian-period-climate-animals-plants.html: https://www.dummies.com/crafts/holiday-crafts/christmas- crafts-for-kids-shoebox-diorama-with-peephole/: http://www.californiapapergoods.com/shoe_box.shtml • DNA: Extracting DNA by Dr. Shaw, Barbara J., Boone, Jane, (2003) Portland State University; https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart- news/million-year-old-rhino-tooth-provides-oldest-dna-data-180973117/ ; Dan Graur, An Upper Limit on the Functional Fraction of the Human Genome, Genome Biology and Evolution, Volume 9, Issue 7, July 2017, Pages 1880–1885, https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evx121; https://www.genome.gov/: Elena A. Ponomarenko, Ekaterina V. Poverennaya, Ekaterina V. Ilgisonis, Mikhail A. Pyatnitskiy, Arthur T. Kopylov, Victor G. Zgoda, Andrey V. Lisitsa, and Alexander I. Archakov (2016) The Size of the Human Proteome: The Width and Depth. International Journal of Analytical Chemistry. Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow 119121, Russia. • Definitions used or modified: https://www.dictionary.com/; • Career facts: https://www.factretriever.com/usa-jobs-facts

Images: • : http://geokansas.ku.edu/mass-extinctions • Images for dioramas: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasas-curiosity-rover-team-confirms-ancient-lakes-on-mars; https:// www.finegardening.com/article/moss-makes-a-lush-carpet; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooksonia; https://upload.wikimedia.org/ wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Devonianscene-green.jpg; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiktaalik; University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, Carboniferous Diorama; http://waikatomuseum.co.nz/exhibitions-and-events/view/2145882920; http://ayay.co.uk/backgrounds/ dinosaurs/mammal_like/mammal-like-reptiles.jpg • Making dioramas: https://www.dummies.com/crafts/holiday-crafts/christmas-crafts-for-kids-shoebox-diorama-with-peephole/; https:// lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/crafts/nature-crafts/nature-craft-projects-for-kids7.htm • DNA: https://www.sciencesource.com/archive/Human-Chromosomes--SEM-SS2449143.html; https://socratic.org/ questions/5a4d01757c014945be3cecd2; https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/education/portal/course/life-cycle/figure-6-13/; https:// knowgenetics.org/nucleotides-and-bases/ ; https://teach.genetics.utah.edu/content/dna/HaveYourDNAandEatItToo.pdf; https:// theminione.com/gel-electrophoresis/; https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/histone; https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high- school-biology/hs-cells/hs-prokaryotes-and-eukaryotes/v/prokaryotic-and-eukaryotic-cells; https://askabiologist.asu.edu/venom/building- blocks-protein; https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Transcription; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Class/MLACourse/ Original8Hour/Genetics/structure.html; http://cyberbridge.mcb.harvard.edu/dna_1.html; https://www.vcbio.science.ru.nl/en/ virtuallessons/cellcycle/chromosome/; https://www.fi.edu/heart/white-blood-cells • Paleozoic: http://www.fossilmall.com/EDCOPE_Enterprises/trilobites/trilobite-3/Trilobite-3.htm; https://www.facebook.com/pg/%D0% A4%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BA-%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BB% D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%82%D1%81-823462924398137/photos/?tab=album&album_id=823463931064703; http:// sapientfridge.org/cambrian/animals/opabinia_f_smith.html; http://www.geologyin.com/2018/02/facts-about-pangaea-most-recent.html • Career: https://moore.libraries.cam.ac.uk/sites/moore.libraries.cam.ac.uk/files/styles/leading/public/001.jpg?itok=X-uYFfbc; https:// www.5280.com/2017/06/the-5280-guide-to-camping-in-colorado-2/

DNA — Phylogenetic Sequences — Answer 34

3 4 6 7 5 2

1 Answer:

Rank

# The nucleobases that are different from the

0 9

14 18 26 27 24

Tunicate ancestor (and you circled) are highlighted

C C C C C C C

in yellow. To find them, you need to go down each

G G G G G G G

column and compare the nucleobase of the

A A

C C C C C

tunicate to each of the other animals. The green

T T

G G G G

G rectangle in the third column has the tunicate

G G G G G G

G nucleobase A. The coqui frog, green sea turtle,

C C C C C C

C and yellowfin tuna have an A, but the hoary bat,

C C C C

G G

G human and wallaby have a T instead.

T T T T

C C

C • After you have gone down each row and circled

A A A

G G G

G the nucleobases that are different than the

tunicate, count the number of changes between

C C C C

G G G

that species and the tunicate. For example, the

A A A

C C C C

tunicate is 0, and the coqui frog has 14

T T T T

A A A

nucleobases that are different.

T T T T T T

T •

After counting the different nucleotides in each

C C C C C C

C row, rank them from 1 to 7 according to the

G G G G G G

G increasing number of different nucleotides.

A A A A A A

G • Fill in the cladogram. The tunicate is not a

T T T T T T

T vertebrate animal, but it has characteristics with

G G G G G G

G vertebrates. It therefore shares a common

T T T T T T

C ancestor with vertebrates. The remaining animals

are placed by rank from left to right, each with a

A A A A A A

C

higher number of nucleobases different than the

T

C C C C C C

tunicate.

T T T T T T

G

• Last, place the number of different nucleobases

T T T T T T

C

DNA DNA Sequences

between each species. That indicates that the

A A A A

C C

C animals above the number all share the same

A A A A

C C

C number of nucleobases that are different than the

T T T T T T

T tunicate.

T T T T T T T

T T

G G G G

G You now have the foundation in

A A

C C C C C

DNA and RNA. Next month, we

G G G G G G G

will explore how mutations in the

A A A A A A A

DNA can modify an organism.

T T

A A A A A

T T

A A A A A

T T

A A A A

A

T T T T T T G

T T T T T T C

A A A A A A

C

A A A A A A

G

T T T T

A A

A

Hoary Bat Hoary Human

Tunicate TunaYellowfin Frog Coqui Wallaby

Green Sea Turtle Sea Green

T T T

A A A A

T T T T T T T

G G G G G G G

Organism

Tunicate Tunicate Ancestor frog Coqui sea Green turtle bat Hoary Human Wallaby Yellowfin tuna