Origins: From Jungle to Lab.  The Story of Life's Complexity
Picture: Pinned Insect
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A seed from Trema micrantha

The outward appearance of the plants, or their morphology, provides valuable information. And with a scanning electron microscope , Nancy can see subtle features once hidden from view, and compares the plants' seeds.

Nancy explains how they differ.
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A DNA analysis of Trema might look like this. Finally, Nancy looks at the genetic makeup of the two plants. DNA analysis reinforces what all the other evidence suggests: The two trema plants should be classified as separate species.

Nancy compares the plants' genes.
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Complexity
Know the Biology
Tree of Life
Who Cares?
What's Evolution?
What's a Species?

Origins: Exploratorium: From Jungle to Lab


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Origins From Jungle to Lab: The Story of Life's Complexity Origins Exploratorium From Jungle to Lab