Analysis

Our trees did not agree, but we trust the one based on protein sequences more. Because each type of pollen was pretty much different, we had to base our tree on just knowing which plants were monocots or dicots. Since our Rose of Sharon and Iris were more closely related in the protein tree, maybe evolutionarily monocots and dicots didn't split into two species. This is just a hypothesis though, and would take a lot more research to understand. However, the protein tree could be wrong, we would just need more time to figure it out.

Phylogenetic Tree based on Protein Sequences

This data table says that Rose of Sharon and Iris are more closely related than either of them are to millet. This is surprising because Millet and Rose of Sharon are both Dicots, so we thought that they would evolutionarily be closer, but they are not. I trust this evidence because we didn't get any real evidence from our microscopes, but I wonder if it would be any different if we could have counted the spores on the pollen. Maybe we used the wrong type of Iris that is not actually a monocot, or something like that.

Phylogenetic Tree based on Pollen Morphology

Our Pollen Table was inconclusive, so we made our tree based off of Monocots and Dicots. Rose of Sharon and Millet are both Dicots and Iris is a monocot, so we think Rose of Sharon and Millet are going to be more closely related, but they all of course come from a common ancestor. 

Pollen Data Table

Click here to view our Pollen Data Table!!! :-)

Procedure

Our three samples were:

Iris

Rose of Sharon

Millet

We took three different types of pictures of our pollen, with three different microscopes. The easiest and most simple one was the light microscope.
Here are the steps we took:

1. Brushed the pollen off the sample and on to the slide

2. Added a drop of water on top of the slide

3. Applied the coverslip

4. Focused on low

3. Focused on medium

4. Focused on high

5. Took a Picture!

The second kind of microscope we used was a Leica, and it looks like this:

1. Instead of using a slip, we put our sample directly on the microscope
2. Focused on low
3. Focused on high
4. Took a picture!

Our third microscope was an SEM, and it can get the closest to the sample. 

1. We used the light microscope to brush the pollen off the sample
2. Brushed the pollen on to the stud
3. Sprayed with air
4. Inserted our stud into the microscope

5. Zoomed in on our pollen

6. Took a picture and downloaded it on our drive

Here are the pictures we got-

Light:

Iris

Millet

Rose of Sharon

Leica:

Millet

Rose of Sharon

Iris

SEM:

 Rose of Sharon

Iris

Images

IRIS IMAGES

SEM picture / 2020X / 59.5 nanometers.

SEM picture / 11600X.

Light Microscope picture. 

Leica Picture

 ROSE OF SHARON IMAGES

SEM picture / 360X.

SEM picture / 1140X / 121 Nanometers. 

SEM picture / 2760X. 

Leica microscope Picture. 

Light Microscope Picture

MILLET

Leica Picture.

Light Microscope 

SEM Picture 14400x

SEM Picture 2060x

Team Agreement

Team members: Ella Timmons, Henry Schoonover, and Zoe Stadler

Ella:

Ella has spent most of her blog time gathering and posting background research. Posting links and and summaries of articles she found in the Internet. Ella created the Rose of Sharon stud for the SEM, as well as taking pictures with the Leica microscope.

Henry:

Henry created the evolutionary question on the blog, as well as the team agreement and assisted Ella with background research. He, along with the other group members, made a stud for the SEM, and took pictured with the Leica microscope. Henry did most of the work on Sea Shore as well.

Zoe:

Zoe worked on the hypothesis and procedure portions of the blog. She also made the SEM stud for the Iris flower. Like the other members, Zoe worked on the Leica microscopes. Zoe also helped build our background research.

Addendum

January 7 2015:

Ella worked on publishing the background data for the blog. She also uploaded SEM and Leica microscope photos Henry created the question on the blog as well as and Team Agreement. Zoe worked on seashore for the period.

January 9 2015:
Today Ella worked on seashore. Henry researched how our three specimens are related, and created a phylogenic tree based on his findings. Zoe formatted and captioned SEM and Leica images for the blog, as well as working on the procedure.

January 14 2015:
Ella made the pollen data table for the blog today. Henry added this post to the addendum and . Zoe took the phylogenic tree the group had made and created it on the computer for the blog.