I found some time ago a paper dealing with teaching phylogenetics. The objects of the phylogenetic analysis were various type of bolts. I cannot find again that reference. Anyone can give me a hint on that? Thanks.
No, not that one. It was a paper in a journal (a bit older, as far as I remember), where the teaching activity was described in great detail. Every student would receive a bag or a box (can't remember) with various screws, bolts, fasteners.
Maybe this one:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/education/activities/2905_link.html
Biological organisms are traditionally classified according to like, or constant, characteristics. However, to show how organisms have evolved over time to be different, scientists sometimes develop a family tree of how they may have evolved, a method known as cladistics. (See Activity Answer for more information.) Students will use common nails, screws, and bolts to simulate the process of applying cladistics to living organisms or fossil life forms. Note: Point out that students' models will differ from how living organisms actually evolve—the inanimate objects they will be using already have a fixed set of traits and do not represent true biological evolutionary relationship that living organisms exhibit.
I think the original version of this sort of exercise was:
Burns, J. M. 1968. A simple model illustrating problems of phylogeny and classification. Syst. Zool. 17:170-173.
I published a paper based on my use of different kinds of screws and bolts a couple of years ago:
Brower, A. V. Z. 2016. Rethinking tree-thinking: cladograms, ancestors and evidence. The American Biology Teacher 78:380-384.
I will be happy to send anybody a copy of the latter who is interested.
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