Growth and development in the genus Pan : a life-history approach
Comparative analysis between extant apes and modern humans has for decades been used to inform the understanding of how humans have evolved their present life-history patterns. Such studies have specifically focused on skeletal life-history as patterns of skeletal development may be represented in fossil human ancestors. Theoretical approaches to analyzing life-history have invoked the principles of heterochrony where changes in growth rate and sequences of maturational events have been proposed to explain differences between Pan and Homo. Debate has arisen as to whether humans demonstrate neoteny (retention of sub-adult features into adult form), hypermorphosis (attainment of adult form prior to complete maturation) or a mixture of both. This debate remains unresolved partly due to incomplete data for development in Pan and lack of integration of data for different skeletal sub-systems such as dental development and epiphyseal fusion. The objective of this study is to improve upon the present state of knowledge by evaluating skeletal development in a sample of Pan troglodytes and Pan paniscus from osteological collections. The sample used in this study consisted of 177 Pan troglodytes and 37 Pan paniscus
Brimacombe, Conrad Stephen
Growth and development in the genus Pan : a life-history approach. Comparative analysis between extant apes and modern humans has for decades been used to inform the understanding of how humans have evolved their present life-history patterns. Such studies have specifically focused on skeletal life-history as patterns of skeletal development may be represented in fossil human ancestors. Theoretical approaches to analyzing life-history have invoked the principles of heterochrony where changes in growth rate and sequences of maturational events have been proposed to explain differences between Pan and Homo. Debate has arisen as to whether humans demonstrate neoteny (retention of sub-adult features into adult form), hypermorphosis (attainment of adult form prior to complete maturation) or a mixture of both. This debate remains unresolved partly due to incomplete data for development in Pan and lack of integration of data for different skeletal sub-systems such as dental development and epiphyseal fusion. The objective of this study is to improve upon the present state of knowledge by evaluating skeletal development in a sample of Pan troglodytes and Pan paniscus from osteological collections. The sample used in this study consisted of 177 Pan troglodytes and 37 Pan paniscus
growth_development genus pan life_history approach comparative_analysis extant modern_human decade use inform human evolve present life_history pattern study specifically_focus skeletal life_history pattern skeletal development may_represent fossil human ancestor theoretical_approach analyze life_history invoked principle change growth rate sequence event propose explain difference pan homo debate arisen whether human retention sub adult feature adult form attainment adult form prior complete maturation mixture both debate_remain unresolved partly_due incomplete data development pan lack integration data different skeletal sub systems dental development fusion objective_study improve upon present state_knowledge evaluate skeletal development sample pan pan osteological collection sample use study_consist pan pan