Brain Evolution Lab

Objectives: 

          By the end of this laboratory you should be able to do the following:

• Compare all regions of a shark, frog, turtle, goose, rat, cat, sheep, horse, and human brain.

      This laboratory involves an investigation into brain evolution. Please begin the lab by reviewing the lecture on Brain Evolution. Please print out these slides ahead of time and be prepared to take notes. The content of which will be on your next quiz or examination. .  When you have completed the video of the sheep brain dissection, read the complete laboratory and answer the questions on the Review Sheet at the end of the laboratory.

Good Luck.

Compare all regions of a shark, frog, turtle, goose, rat, cat, sheep, horse, and human brain.

        After you have cleaned up your brain dissection area and have cleaned all of your instruments, begin to study the following images of shark, frog, turtle, goose, rat, cat, sheep, horse, and human brains. Use these images to answer the questions in the Review Sheet below.

Good luck,

Shark Brain

Frog Brain

Turtle Brain

Goose Brain

Rat Brain

Cat Brain

Horse Brain

Human Brain

Review Sheet

Answer the following questions

1. Which brain has larger cerebral hemispheres, a shark or a turtle? ___________________

2. What is the pineal gland called in a shark? ________________________

3. Which brain has larger cerebellum, a frog or a goose? ___________________

4. Which brain has more folds in the cerebral hemispheres, a cat or a rat? ___________________

5. Which brain has more folds in the cerebral hemispheres, a goose or a horse? _____________

6. What one area does the shark brain have that no other brains have? ______________________

7. Which brain has a larger cerebellum, a turtle or a rat? ___________________

8. What is the difference between the rat cerebral cortex and the human cerebral cortex? _____________________________

9. Which brain has larger cerebral hemispheres, a human or a rat? ___________________

10. Which brain has smaller optic lobes, a shark or a goose? ___________________

Please scan or take a photo of your Review Sheet in hand it in by the deadline to get credit for this laboratory.

rmorrissette@palomar.edu