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Peer Review

Creating Phylogenetic Trees from DNA Sequences

Reviewed:

Mar 28, 2015 by Biology
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8 stars
Content Quality: 4.8 stars
Effectiveness: 4.8 stars
Ease of Use: 4.5 stars
Overview:

This material includes interactive web content that contains embedded videos explaining how DNA sequences can be used to generate phylogenetic trees. A downloadable, .pdf worksheet for students is also available.
Type of Material:

This is a web based interactive "Click and Learn" module.
Recommended Uses:

This material could be used as a stand-alone learning module or as a supplemental learning activity in a biology course.
Technical Requirements:

Web browser. Some plugins may be necessary, such as Adobe Flash.
Identify Major Learning Goals:

The major learning objectives are clearly stated. The students will be able to: describe SNPs and indels (insertions/deletions); summarize the process used to generate a sequence alignment; identify locations and types of mutations in a sequence alignment; describe the connection between a DNA sequence alignment and a phylogenetic tree; and interpret a cladogram.
Target Student Population:

The material is suitable for high school or college level courses in biology.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Understanding of DNA, PCR and sequencing.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • A variety of short excerpts of lectures from qualified scientists
  • Good animations
  • Clear and accurate explanations of information
Concerns:

  • The material is presented at a very basic level, and some issues are not addressed
  • The section on rotation around nodes is fast paced and probably not comprehensible to students without some background

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The presentation can be used both in class and as a homework assignment
  • Students would gain a basic understanding from the examples given
  • A PDF work sheet is provided for use with students
  • Additional resources are provided and links to similar lessons
Concerns:

  • Could serve as a brief introduction but leaves many questions unanswered

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The presentation is easy to navigate with back and forward buttons
  • The videos all played correctly (but see Concerns)
  • The presentation opens in a separate smaller window
Concerns:

  • Once a video expands it replaces the slide on which it was embedded; when finished it is impossible to get back to that slide directly
  • The animations of SNPs and Indels seemed to show no movement for an inordinate time until they finally did
  • A second play of some videos did not work--I had to advance from the slide and then go back to it
Other Issues and Comments:

None.
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