Early Hominin Survived on Tiger-Nut Diet, Essay Example

I have learnt from this article that Paranthropus boisei is a special type of animal with characteristics designed for eating certain foods. For example, scientists discovered that the animal’s jaws were very sturdy. It was believed that they were so structured to achieve the purpose of grinding solid tough foods such as nuts. While this was the case further studies proved that these same teeth were able to masticate soft food as well. Along with learning how this animal’s anatomy aligned with the diet,   I also understood that this apparent contradiction in special use of teeth for certain foods, baffled scientists. Finally, this led to me learning that scientists were able to confirm that Paranthropus boisei mastication devices (teeth) were designed according to their needs. This was similar to findings from observations conducted in a study with yellow baboons living in Africa (Macho, 12).

While learning this about the Paranthropus boisei has been very helpful to me, thereis a need for presentation of more data in the article. It was significant to learn of a comparison to the yellow bacons in Africa, but could there be more studies demonstrating similarities among other species of animals? Besides, this researcher did not mention that the yellow baboons in Africa belonged to the identical species asParanthropus boisei. This information would have been useful in making the conclusion that baboons had similar nutritional demands to Paranthropus boisei due to similar markings in their teeth. To me this is a very biased conclusion lacking solid evidence. What other characteristics beside the teeth could be used tovalidate this assumption? Importantly, what other species of animals were studied to validate the evidence of similarity in the one year yellow baboon study. Also, to what extent the similarity existed was not clarified. Was it an identical similarity or partial? (Macho, 12).

Two Anthropological terms

Postcranial describes every organ found below the skill/brain. In this article post cranial relates to the teeth of the animals being researched.

Microevolution describes changes occurring in allele frequencies. In relation to the article it means changes in body structures that have occurred overtime to facilitate function and needs of living species.

Words from chapters 5 & 8

Chapter: 5 Homology indicates shared ancestry. From the article’ perspective the author perhaps was trying to establish some homology between the yellow baboon andParanthropus boisei.

Anology indicates species that function in the same way. The article describe analogy in showing similarities in nutritional function betweenyellow baboons and Paranthropus boisei.

Hominin are members of a zoological tribe. The author in this article made insinuation to yellow baboons as being hominin

Extinction means no longer alive as a species. In the article he author briefly mentioned extinction to mean he animals losing their ability to grind food with their teeth over time and dying out.

Chapter 8: Fossil is the naturally preserved remains of animals. In this article he author indicates some reference to fossils in the article when mentioning studies that from animal remains, which indicate their function in a previous era.

Adaptive radiation describes how organism adapt into various forms to change their environment. In the article the writer was demonstrates howyellow baboon and Paranthropus boisei overtime executed adaptive radiation in their diet.

Artifact is an object that has a cultural or ancestral value. In the article food was anartifact

Primitive trait refers to a biological characteristic which has not changed overtime. In the article the author was establishing a case of primitive trait in the teeth structure of bothbetween yellow baboons and Paranthropus boisei.

Mosaic evolution relates the concept of changes taking place in some parts of the body parts and not others. In the article it means changes taking place in the yellow baboons’ teeth and no other part of their body such as the brain and limbs

Works cited

Macho GA. Baboon Feeding Ecology Informs the Dietary Niche of Paranthropus boisei. PLoSONE 9 (1): 2014. Print.