
NSF Org: |
BCS Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences |
Recipient: |
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Initial Amendment Date: | July 15, 2015 |
Latest Amendment Date: | June 28, 2016 |
Award Number: | 1516557 |
Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
Program Manager: |
Rebecca Ferrell
rferrell@nsf.gov (703)292-7850 BCS Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences SBE Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences |
Start Date: | August 1, 2015 |
End Date: | December 31, 2016 (Estimated) |
Total Intended Award Amount: | $80,159.00 |
Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $100,907.00 |
Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2016 = $20,748.00 |
History of Investigator: |
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Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
2400 6TH ST NW WASHINGTON DC US 20059-0002 (202)806-4759 |
Sponsor Congressional District: |
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Primary Place of Performance: |
DC US 20059-0001 |
Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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Parent UEI: |
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NSF Program(s): |
Biological Anthropology, Cross-Directorate Activities |
Primary Program Source: |
01001617DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
Program Reference Code(s): |
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Program Element Code(s): |
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Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.075 |
ABSTRACT
Primates are a diverse group of mammals in terms of their anatomy, and it is not well understood how the various anatomical parts (modules) of the primate body evolved into very different forms that still function properly. This question extends to modern humans, whose anatomy has changed dramatically from our ape ancestors, allowing complex functions to include breathing, speaking, chewing, swallowing, walking, running, and using tools. New studies, methods and techniques are thus needed to identify and compare patterns of organization, integration, modularity, evolvability and complexity of the muscles and skeleton of the head and limbs, to have a more comprehensive and integrative view of the evolutionary history of the human body. This pilot project will investigate these anatomical relationships and patterns through sophisticated anatomical network analyses of existing data from a wide range of primate species. Broader impacts of this project include student support and training in the life sciences at universities that serve underrepresented minorities, K-12 and public science outreach efforts, and open-access websites, databases, and repositories for data that will be of interest across a range of disciplines.
A number of researchers have focused on how the various structures of the primate body evolved into very different forms that still function properly, but there are differing views about how to answer this fundamental question for human evolution. Concepts like anatomical "modules" and "integration" are mentioned, but there is a lack of agreement about what these terms mean in the human body. This project uses anatomical network analysis to identify and compare patterns of organization, integration, modularity, evolvability and complexity of muscles and skeleton of the head and limbs. A unique strength of this network approach is that it enables direct comparisons among different tissues (e.g. bones, muscles) and body parts with vastly different architectures (e.g. heads, limbs). This project will combine large and complex amounts of data collected from numerous primate taxa and different structures and tissues to detect muscle, skeletal and musculoskeletal head and limb modules and morphological patterns that cannot be detected by using other methods, and compare these modules and patterns to infer evolutionary trends in primate and human body morphology in a more comprehensive way. Specific hypotheses about the relative modularity and complexity of the head versus limbs, and about increased and unique network complexity in the human head, will be addressed.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This project is unique and transformative because it is the first to address fundamental questions in Biological Anthropology by combining large and complex amounts of data collected from numerous primate taxa, different structures and types of tissues to allowed us to: 1) detect head/limb modules and morphological patterns that cannot be detected by using other methods, and are therefore new to science; 2) compare, in a single study, modules and patterns found in the head and limbs to present a broader view of primate and human morphological modularity, integration, complexity and evolvability and infer evolutionary trends in a more integrative context; and therefore 3) investigate and understand primate/human evolution and body morphology in a novel, fresh way.
The most significant, emblematic results for the broader community are probably those that concern direct comparisons between humans and our closest relatives, bonobos and common chimpanzees. Namely, we compared the similarity of the musculoskeletal organization between these three species. Our results show that, in general, the heads of P. troglodytes and P. paniscus resemble more each other in the number of anatomical parts (N), while the heads of H. sapiens and P. troglodytes are more similar in the total number of articulations and attachments (K). Network parameters capturing the topological arrangement of parts show more similarity between P. troglodytes and P. paniscus, than between them and H. sapiens, with the sole exception of the average shortest path length (L). In the upper limb, results show that the number of anatomical parts and their connections (N, K) are more similar between P. paniscus and H. sapiens. However, P. troglodytes and P. paniscus show a clear similarity for all network parameters (D, C, L, H) capturing the topological arrangement of the limb. This show how, despite differences in number of bones and muscles, and their connections, the overall topology of the upper limb is conserved in closely related species. It remains to be know whether this similarity is due to a more close developmental program or to relatively similar functional demands on the upper limbs. Lastly, the results for the lower limb evidence, even more clearly this common theme, with the number of anatomical parts, contacts, and network parameters pointing to a striking similarity between P. troglodytes and P. paniscus. On the overall, network parameters calculated for the head, upper limb, and lower limb of the three species seem to indicate a larger similarity between P. troglodytes and P. paniscus than between them and H. sapiens.
We also compared the similarity of each body part in the three species by looking at the key connections of the anatomical network. Key connections are those that, due to their position, have the potential to be more involved in the processes taking place at a network. Our results indicate that P. troglodytes and P. paniscus shown a striking similarity in their top connections, having an exact match in the identity of the most important connections that is not seen when comparing to H. sapiens. In the head, the match between P. troglodytes and P. paniscus is total, while H. sapiens shows some differences with them. In the upper limb, P. troglodytes and P. paniscus also show more similarities in their specific important connections, while H. sapiens only share two key connections with them. Although the large similarity between P. troglodytes and P. paniscus is clear in the upper limb, each species shows some degree of differential specificity for the top connections (i.e., each one has some top connections not shared by the other two). Finally, in the lower limb the number of top key connections is reduced to two in P. troglodytes and P. paniscus, which they share, while H. sapiens shows additional key connections in the lower limb not shared with either P. troglodytes or P. paniscus.
This project will thus generate exceptional new insights, stimulate the use of a new methodology (AnNA), and open multiple new lines of research within BioAnth, as well as in fields such as palaeontology and comparative, functional and evolutionary biology. It will also have an impact in fields such as palaeontology and comparative, functional and evolutionary biology, by linking research on these fields with systems biology. Importantly, it will also enhance the academic and research infrastructure of UNLV and of HU, a historical institution that has been famously described as being the most important post-secondary institution to help break the cycle of poverty among African Americans. Namely, Howard students that were involved in the project accumulated a broad knowledge about evolutionary biology, comparative anatomy and Biological Anthropology, i.e. fields in which African-Americans are particularly underrepresented, and so with particular impact at Howard. This will moreover hone their professional communication and networking skills, thus enhancing their chances of success in higher education and/or scientific careers.
Last Modified: 01/02/2017
Modified by: Rui Diogo
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