Name the structure that is unique to all vertebrates.
The backbone or vertebral column is the structure that is unique to all vertebrates.
Fossils and genes are used to determine ____
evolutionary relationships or the evolutionary history of organisms.
What are at least two things that the skulls in the fossil record likely tell us about hominin evolution?
The skulls in the fossil record likely tell us the following two things about hominin evolution:
1. Changes in brain size: The skulls in the fossil record give us an idea of the brain size of our extinct hominin ancestors. The size and shape of the braincase (the part of the skull that houses the brain) can tell us about the relative size and complexity of the brain. For example, the gradual increase in brain size over time suggests that hominins were undergoing an important evolutionary transition towards greater intelligence.
2. Changes in facial features: The skulls in the fossil record also tell us about the changes in facial features of hominins over time. Through careful analysis of features such as the jaw, teeth, and brow ridges, paleoanthropologists can reconstruct how hominin faces changed in relation to other parts of the body. For example, the gradual loss of massive molars and robust jaws over time suggests a dietary shift towards softer, cooked foods, and possibly the use of tools to help process those foods.