Abstract

This talk covers recent work on the development of locomotion and the skeletal system of primates, arguing that, perhaps counterintuitively, bone structure can be used to study neural development and life history in human evolution.

Mammalian locomotion develops in a species-specific, stereotypical sequence of events that dramatically changes locomotor kinetics and kinematics throughout ontogeny. These developmental changes in loading conditions are generated by neural circuits that develop in parallel to increases in physical size and weight of a growing animal. Bones dynamically adapt to their changing mechanical environment by altering the structure of trabecular bone, the internal 3D mesh-like structure found underneath joint surfaces. Trabecular structure, then, can hypothetically be used to track developmental shifts in locomotor behaviour and neuromuscular development. This could significantly expand our knowledge of the biology and behavior of fossil species.

To test this hypothesis, I examined the growth and development of the internal trabecular bone structure of upper and lower limb bones of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and Japanese macaques. I used micro-CT scanning to create high resolution 3D models of each bone. I then calculated and mapped the biomechanical properties of the internal trabecular structure throughout whole bones in each species. The results indicate an intimate relationship between locomotor development, and the development of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems of these primates, as well as aspects of their life-history. The talk will finish with a discussion of some exciting applications of these findings to address old and new questions in hominin evolution and development.

Register here for the talk: Meeting Registration – Zoom