Fossils reveal the complex evolutionary history of the mammalian regionalized spine

K E Jones; K. D. Angielczyk; P David Polly; J. J. Head; V. Fernandez; J. Lungmus; S. Tulga; S E Pierce

doi:10.1126/science.aar3126

Fossils reveal the complex evolutionary history of the mammalian regionalized spine

K E Jones, K. D. Angielczyk, P David Polly, J. J. Head, V. Fernandez, J. Lungmus, S. Tulga, S E Pierce

Earth and Environmental Sciences - Academic & Research

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

A unique characteristic of mammals is a vertebral column with anatomically distinct regions, but when and how this trait evolved remains unknown. We reconstructed vertebral regions and their morphological disparity in the extinct forerunners of mammals, the nonmammalian synapsids, to elucidate the evolution of mammalian axial differentiation. Mapping patterns of regionalization and disparity (heterogeneity) across amniotes reveals that both traits increased during synapsid evolution. However, the onset of regionalization predates increased heterogeneity. On the basis of inferred homology patterns, we propose a "pectoral-first" hypothesis for region acquisition, whereby evolutionary shifts in forelimb function in nonmammalian therapsids drove increasing vertebral modularity prior to differentiation of the vertebral column for specialized functions in mammals.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1249–1252
Journal	Science
Volume	361
Early online date	21 Sept 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aar3126
Publication status	Published - 2018

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10.1126/science.aar3126

ICAL: Interdisciplinary Centre for Ancient Life
Garwood, R. (PI), Wogelius, R. (PI), Sansom, R. (CoI), Buckley, M. (CoI), Chamberlain, A. (CoI), Manning, P. (CoI), Egerton, V. (CoI), Sellers, W. (CoI), Nudds, J. (CoI), Bulot, L. G. (CoI), Brocklehurst, R. (PGR student), Brassey, C. A. (CoI), Keating, J. (CoI), La Porta, A. (CoI), Brocklehurst, R. (PGR student), Callender-Crowe, L. (PGR student), Wallace, E. (PGR student), Chester, J. (PGR student), Davenport, J. (PGR student), Tuley, K. (PGR student), Lomax, D. (Researcher), Reeves, J. (PGR student), Smart, C. (PGR student), Ferro, C. (PGR student), Karoullas, C. (PGR student), Heath, J. (PGR student), Dickson, A. (PGR student), Austin Sydes, L. (PGR student), McLean, C. (PGR student), Harvey, V. (PGR student) & Jones, K. (PI)
Project: Research

Cite this

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abstract = "A unique characteristic of mammals is a vertebral column with anatomically distinct regions, but when and how this trait evolved remains unknown. We reconstructed vertebral regions and their morphological disparity in the extinct forerunners of mammals, the nonmammalian synapsids, to elucidate the evolution of mammalian axial differentiation. Mapping patterns of regionalization and disparity (heterogeneity) across amniotes reveals that both traits increased during synapsid evolution. However, the onset of regionalization predates increased heterogeneity. On the basis of inferred homology patterns, we propose a {"}pectoral-first{"} hypothesis for region acquisition, whereby evolutionary shifts in forelimb function in nonmammalian therapsids drove increasing vertebral modularity prior to differentiation of the vertebral column for specialized functions in mammals.",

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year = "2018",

doi = "10.1126/science.aar3126",

language = "English",

volume = "361",

pages = "1249–1252",

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AU - Angielczyk, K. D.

AU - Polly, P David

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AU - Fernandez, V.

AU - Lungmus, J.

AU - Tulga, S.

AU - Pierce, S E

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

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AB - A unique characteristic of mammals is a vertebral column with anatomically distinct regions, but when and how this trait evolved remains unknown. We reconstructed vertebral regions and their morphological disparity in the extinct forerunners of mammals, the nonmammalian synapsids, to elucidate the evolution of mammalian axial differentiation. Mapping patterns of regionalization and disparity (heterogeneity) across amniotes reveals that both traits increased during synapsid evolution. However, the onset of regionalization predates increased heterogeneity. On the basis of inferred homology patterns, we propose a "pectoral-first" hypothesis for region acquisition, whereby evolutionary shifts in forelimb function in nonmammalian therapsids drove increasing vertebral modularity prior to differentiation of the vertebral column for specialized functions in mammals.

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DO - 10.1126/science.aar3126

M3 - Article

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 361

SP - 1249

EP - 1252

JO - Science

JF - Science

ER -

Fossils reveal the complex evolutionary history of the mammalian regionalized spine

Abstract

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ICAL: Interdisciplinary Centre for Ancient Life

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