Examination of Dental Maturation in South African Australopithecines by Computed Tomography

康罗伊和瓦耶尼博士是应用 计算机断层扫描（CT）技术 材料. 在以前的NSF支持下，他们已经证明了 化石标本仍然部分嵌入沉积物中， 矩阵可以分析。 使用CT，粘附材料可以， 效果，被剥离，以揭示下面的骨头。 它也 可以检查骨头的内部结构。 这些 研究结果使得古生物学家和古人类学家 来解决新的问题 在这个项目中，康罗伊博士和瓦耶尼将继续他们的研究 原始人（人类）头骨化石的残骸。 他们将前往 南非，在那里发现了许多重要的标本， 现已安置并进行CT研究。 结果存储在 然后将在华盛顿进行分析 大学 为了提供基线数据， 并会研究样本。 特别是，该团队将 专注于牙齿和牙齿萌出的阶段。 以这种方式 他们将试图确定个体死亡的年龄 并重建牙齿萌出的模式。 这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。 第一、 人类学家无法就有多少种不同的早期 在非洲的化石记录中有人类的代表。 通过 比较一些化石的发育速度，这些 分组可以变得更加清晰。 其次，人类学家认为 关于不同原始人类物种的程度，在 他们的发育速度，更像人类或更像猩猩（大猩猩） 如. 在这项工作之前，证据仅限于视觉 注意到牙齿从下颌突出的检查，或 上颌骨 因为CT技术可以检查 未萌出牙齿的发育阶段，它提供了一个更 敏感措施。 最后，本研究将提供 对人类基本生物学发展的进一步了解 特色

Drs. Conroy and Vannier are pioneers in the application of computed tomographic (CT) techniques to paleontological materials. With previous NSF support, they have demonstrated that fossilized specimens still partially embedded in sedimentary matrix may be analyzed. With CT, the adhering material can, in effect, be stripped away to reveal the underlying bone. Also it is possible to examine the internal structure of the bone. These results have permitted paleontologists and paleoanthropologists to address new questions. In this project Dr. Conroy and Vannier will continue their study of fossil hominid (human) cranial remains. They will travel to South Africa, where many important specimens were found and are now housed and conduct CT studies. The results, stored in computerized form, will then be analyzed at Washington University. To provide baseline data, a sample of modern specimens will also be studied. In particular, the team will focus on the teeth and stages of dental eruption. In this way they will attempt to determine the age at which individuals died and to reconstruct the patterns of dental eruption. This research is important for several reasons. First, anthropologists cannot agree on how many different kinds of early humans are represented in the African fossil record. Through comparison of developmental rates in a number of fossils, these groupings may become more clear. Secondly, anthropologists argue about the extent to which different hominid species were, in their developmental rates, more human or more pongid (great ape) like. Until this work, the evidence has been limited to visual inspection which noted the teeth protruding from the mandible or maxilla. Because the CT technique allows one to examine the developmental stages of unerupted teeth, it offers a much more sensitive measure. Finally, this research will provide additional insight into the development of basic human biological characteristics.