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Related Concept Videos

Synteny and Evolution02:31

Synteny and Evolution

John H. Renwick first coined the term “synteny” in 1971, which refers to the genes present on the same chromosomes, even if they are not genetically linked. The species with common ancestry tend to show conserved syntenic regions. Therefore, the concept of synteny is nowadays used to describe the evolutionary relationship between species.
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective01:23

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...
Eukaryotic Evolution01:24

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
Phylogeny01:23

Phylogeny

Phylogeny is concerned with the evolutionary diversification of organisms or groups of organisms. A group of organisms with a name is called a taxon (singular). Taxa (plural) can span different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. For instance, the group containing all birds is a taxon (comprising the class Aves), and the group of all species of daisies (the genus Bellis) is a taxon. Phylogenies can likewise include just one genus (i.e., depict species relationships) or span an entire kingdom.

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Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
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Rethinking primate origins again.

Robert W Sussman1, D Tab Rasmussen, Peter H Raven

  • 1Department of Anthropology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. rwsussma@wustl.edu

American Journal of Primatology
|November 28, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The earliest primates likely evolved by eating fruits and insects on terminal branches, supporting the primate/angiosperm co-evolution theory. Fossil evidence, like Carpolestes simpsoni, and new data bolster this hypothesis.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Primate Evolution
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The "visual predation hypothesis" proposed earliest primate adaptations were for visually hunting on branches.
  • This theory has been challenged by new data on early primates and related mammals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the "primate/angiosperm co-evolution theory," which suggests early primates exploited angiosperm products.
  • To evaluate if fossil evidence supports the co-evolution theory.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of recent data on primate-like marsupials, nocturnal prosimians, and early fossil primates.
  • Examination of the paleo-environmental context of early primate appearance.
  • Review of new field data on small primate diets and visual adaptations.

Main Results:

  • The discovery of Carpolestes simpsoni provides fossil support for the angiosperm co-evolution theory.
  • New data on primate diets and visual adaptations further corroborate the theory.
  • The theory posits early primates exploited fruits, flowers, and insects in terminal branch environments.

Conclusions:

  • The primate/angiosperm co-evolution theory is supported by current fossil and ecological data.
  • Early primate evolution was likely influenced by the diversification of angiosperms.
  • This co-evolutionary relationship offers a more comprehensive explanation for early primate adaptations.