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Home → Teach Evolution → Lessons and Teaching Tools → Teaching Resources Database → Using trees to uproot HIV: The work of Satish Pillai

Using trees to uproot HIV: The work of Satish Pillai

Grade Level(s):

  • 9-12
  • 13-16
  • Advanced
  • General

Source:

  • UC Museum of Paleontology

Resource type:

  • Research profile

Time: 30 minutes

Overview

This research profile follows scientist Satish Pillai as he studies the evolution of HIV within infected individuals. His research uses the tools of phylogenetics to investigate vaccine development and the possibility of curing the disease.

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Dr. Satish Pillai
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] A hallmark of science is exposing ideas to testing. (P3, P4, P6, P7)
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists use multiple research methods (experiments, observational research, comparative research, and modeling) to collect data. (P2, P3, P4, NOS1)
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Scientists may explore many different hypotheses to explain their observations. (P7)
  • [Nature of science: Grades 9-12] Science is a human endeavor. (NOS7)
  • [Nature of science: Grades 13-16] Scientists can test ideas about events and processes long past, very distant, and not directly observable.
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 9-12] Scientists use the similarity of DNA nucleotide sequences to infer the relatedness of taxa. (LS4.A)
  • [Studying evolution: Grades 13-16] Evolutionary trees (i.e., phylogenies or cladograms) portray hypotheses about evolutionary relationships.
  • Disciplinary Core Idea LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
  • NOS Matrix understanding category 1. Scientific investigations use a variety of methods.
  • NOS Matrix understanding category 7. Science is a human endeavor.
  • Science and Engineering Practice 2. Developing and using models
  • Science and Engineering Practice 3. Planning and carrying out investigations
  • Science and Engineering Practice 4. Analyzing and interpreting data
  • Science and Engineering Practice 6. Constructing explanations and designing solutions
  • Science and Engineering Practice 7. Engaging in argument from evidence

9-12 teaching tips: This research profile includes discussion and essay questions that can be assigned to students. Get tips for using research profiles in your classroom.

13-16 teaching tips: Use this resource to relate evolutionary concepts to the topic of viruses (or get more suggestions for incorporating evolution throughout your biology syllabus). This research profile includes discussion and essay questions that can be assigned to students. Get tips for using research profiles in your classroom.