Using the Taxonomy database ANSWERS

Answers to the Using the Taxonomy database exercise

Answers by: Rasmus Wernersson, Aug 2026

Question 1:

• 1a: "Metazoa" Taxonomy ID: 33208
• 1b: Familiy containing humans: Hominidae
• 1c: Yes, humans are certainly vertebrated (we have a spine), and that can been seen in the taxonomy by looking at the "full lineage" and seing we're members of the group "Vertebrata".

Question 2:

Lowest ranking taxonomical group shared by Human (TaxID: 9606) and Mouse (TaxId:10090)

• 2a: (abbreviated lineage): Mammalia (rank: class) - Eng: Mammals
• 2b: (full lineage): Euarchontoglires (rank: superorder) is the last common group before human and mouse branch off into primates and rodents. This is a group of placental mammals.

Question 3:

Lowest ranking taxonomical group shared by Human (TaxID: 9606) and Fruit Fly (D. melanogaster - TaxId:7227)

• 3a: (Abbreviated lineage): Metazoa (rank: kingdom) - this is the group of all animals.
• 3b: (Full lineage): Bilateria (rank: clade (which just mean a group) - sit between kingdom (Metazoa) and phyllum (Cordata for human, Arthropoda for the fly))

Question 4:

a)

The sister group to the Zebrafish is the cod.

The sister group to the lungfish is the Coelacanth (famous "Blue fish").

b)

Now, the sister group to the lungfish is you!

c)

you

d)

you

e)

you

f)

No! See https://www.sciencealert.com/actually-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-fish-say-cladists

Question 5:

a)

Yes, there is a difference.

b)

Yes, the trees can be made identical by swapping the Coelacanth and the lungfish.

Question 6: (AI assisted analysis)

No single answer can be given here - we'll discuss some example in class next week as part of the wrap-up.