Evolution of the Bony Projection on Ailurus fulgens Melanie Brown Dixie State University Author Note: This paper was prepared for Evolution 3010, class instructed by Dr. Curtis Walker Throughout the evolution of the hand, most commonly found in primates, advantages of a thumb have led to the improvement of activities such as gripping and squeezing. Over time, few species developed full capabilities and usage of the thumb. Some species developed slightly while others did not develop it at all. For the species Ailurus fulgens, also known as the Red Panda, a “remnant” of a thumb remains.…
Over the last couple of decades the finding of numbers of important fossil discoveries in Africa which were bipedal primates. Biped; terrestrial locomotion where an organism moves by two feet also considers bipedalism. That bipedal locomotion sets modern humans apart from all other living primates. The origin of bipedalism has been argued about by how it was the adoption of early hominin fossil record (that was found) had adaptive shifts locomotion over the series of time. Which illustrate the features of hominid, the hominin fossil that gives solid grounds of evidence.…
Being an American Sign Language interpreter of color can develop some hesitancy within the field. More specifically with interpreters of African-American descent, many people may be wary of how the interpreting or the Deaf community may react to their presence. However, what some interpreting students of color do not realize is that having a diverse background in this field is what allows for a multitude of settings to be interpreted effectively. Without differing backgrounds, interpreters and deaf clients would not, and could not, be well matched.…
This articulation allowed the manufacture of early tools increasing the survivability of humans. During the transition from a quadruped mammal to a bipedal mammal, the arms did not have to sustain the weight of the chest cavity and a majority of the weight of was being transitioned to weight upon the pelvic region and legs. Thus as weight was no longer being pressure onto the carpals and phalanges they had decreased in size. They have also increased in amount of different carpals in order to sustain the variable articulation beginning to be…
2.) In consideration of the relationship between the Intermembral index and the habitual mode of locomotion for the six different primates, the collected data suggests that the lower the index is, the greater the chance for bipedalism as the “default,” or main movement. Versus a higher index which instead suggests the preferred ability of moving with the arms (e.g. swinging). Moreover, primates with an index closer to a total of 100 appear to assume quadrupedalism. This query can be seen when closely evaluating the results of the Gibbon, the Baboon, and the Human.…
Most hypotheses stem from the early hominids’ move from living in the tree to on the ground, potentially because of changing climates and a reduction in forested areas. Some theories that have been suggested include increased tool use, energy efficiency in movement, body temperature regulation, and foraging postures that required the hands to remain free for carrying food (Campbell et al. 241-4). They of these ideas, or some combination of them, could have led to the evolution of bipedalism. No matter what the original reason for it was, bipedalism had given humans an added advantage in adapting to every environment by increasing our energy efficiency, allowing us to travel longer distances, and freeing our hands for tool…
The ability to travel bipedally is the most advantageous characteristic that a primate can have. Hominins evolved to travel on two feet over time as they moved away from scavenging for resources in trees, to hunting prey on the ground. This ability to travel bipeadlilly was an adaptation that allowed these primates to compete in a food chain that they once could not compete in. It is believed that those primates with a mutation to travel on two feet were able to outcompete those who were not, and thus thrived and reproduced by the masses. The San persistence theory shows how traveling on two feet is more effective that traveling on all fours.…
While the definition of American Sign Language varies throughout institutions and settings, Dr. William Vicars defines ASL as “a visually perceived language based on a naturally evolved system of articulated hand gestures and their placement relative to the body, along with non-manual markers such as facial expressions, head movements, shoulder raises, mouth morphemes, and movements of the body” (ASL: a brief description, n.d.). More specifically, ASL may also vary among individuals. Pidgin Signed English, or PSE, is a combination of ASL and English. Since ASL is a distinct language, it does not translate perfectly into English, with many words and syntax rules differentiating.…
The remains of this hominid were also discovered proximal to the site of the footprints. These footprints are the oldest evidence of early human mobility. This importance of the discovery that our team has made cannot be ignored, and possess much information regarding the evolution of humans. Bipedalism, the ability to move using two feet is an extraordinary feature that makes humans different from many species, including our closest cousins, the chimpanzee. When bipedalism came to be remained a mystery that prevented archaeologists, like me to fully understand evolution.…
The goal of this paper is to discuss the physical characteristics that indicate the evolution of bipedalism and large brain size in the hominid line. To achieve this I will address the anatomical differences between humans and apes that make bipedalism efficient form of locomotion, the increase of brain size, and which of these…
Our everyday stance allows us to do a variety of actions such as picking up objects, running long distances, carry food and children from place to place, and maintain balance across various terrains and platforms. With our ability of curling our hands and feet, we are able to create objects, such as tools, in practice of defense, as our ancestors have done before us to fend for themselves against wildlife and other tribes. “Once hominids came to depend on and develop tools, evolution would favor dexterity of the hands and increasing mental capability required to devise, construct, and apply tools” (MacDonald, 2003, p. 332). Due to physical and mental evolution, we are now able to analyze and project abstract and scientific thought, creating massive weapons and complex figures for the defense of, not only our individual selves, but nations world-wide, which goes hand in hand with the complex arrival of infrastructures within societies. Bipedalism attributed to the conception of modern day…
I am 100% for early childhood children learning ASL. American Sign Language is such a beautiful form of language. I have taken courses at SUNY Broome for ASL, both I and II. I want to do an independent study for ASL, however, I don’t have time. I love the language.…
Prior to the comprehensive works and visionary thinking of William Stokoe, the American Deaf community remained deprived of recognition as a culture and community that shared a complex and intricate language rich in structure and system. Shortly after Stokoe began his twenty-nine year exploration of Sign Language at Gallaudet University in 1955, the Deaf Community’s future as an acknowledged independent community became immeasurably brighter. Through almost three decades of research, observations, learning, and writing, English Professor William Stokoe Ph.D. brought validation to the Deaf Community through by publishing his findings, which not only earned him the title of “Father of American Sign Language” but also legitimized American Sign…
Gesture Development According to Jarzynski (2013), gestures are a significant tool used to predict a child’s language. Gestures are an important indication of the child’s language learning path in that, when a child displays a gesture they are employing intentional communication, which is a stepping stone to verbal communication (Jarzynski, 2013). According to Jarzynski, an example of this is when a “nine-month-old child is reaching towards something he wants, while looking back at his mom”. The child is communicating even though they have yet to acquire speech.…
Throughout this semester it was required to learn another language and I had chosen American Sign Language, also known as, ASL. It was incredibly frustrating and rewarding all at the same time. I learned and relearned a lot, not only about the actual language but what it takes and the process of learning another language, and about myself. I did not do anything related to American Sign Language over spring break.…