Doctoral Dissertation Improvement: Craniofacial Asymmetry, Morphological Integration, and Developmental Instability in the Human Skull

博士论文改进：颅面不对称、形态整合和人类颅骨发育不稳定性

• 批准号: 0234565
• 负责人: Joan Richtsmeier
• 金额: $ 0.91万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-11-01 至 2004-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0234565&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Improvement; Craniofacial; Asymmetry

This project uses craniofacial asymmetry to identify developmentally integrated characters in the human skull. Understanding the normal range of craniofacial variation, as well as limitations on the range of variation, is a necessary foundation for research involving the human skull. Developmental integration of character traits constrains variability, because these traits grow, adapt, and evolve together as a single unit. This project will identify characters that are integrated through direct developmental interactions (developmental "modules") and test whether they remain integrated under conditions of stress. Distinguishing patterns of integration that remain consistent under stress is critical for studies of adaptation, evolutionary change and speciation.Recent advances in the study of fluctuating asymmetry offer an innovative new method for identifying developmentally integrated characters. Fluctuating asymmetry has been defined as a random pattern of between-sides variation in a sample of individuals. Because of the random nature of morphological fluctuating asymmetry, significant covariation in the fluctuating asymmetry of two characters indicates that the characters are developmentally integrated. This project consists of three separate but related studies. First, the methodology will be applied to analysis of normal adult skulls to test predictions from substantial existing literature on integration in the skull. Second, the maintenance of integration under the stress of biomechanical constraint will be tested using data from children with prematurely fused cranial sutures and a normal control group. Finally, the maintenance of integration under systemic stress is tested using data from two archaeological samples of humans that lived under conditions differing in adversity. For each analysis, the Co-PI will collect three-dimensional coordinates from biologically relevant landmarks on each skull. Fluctuating asymmetry will be quantified using these coordinate data and established morphometric methods. Patterns of covariation will be tested to identify developmentally integrated characters. Project funding permits the Co-PI to visit various museums housing skeletal collections. In addition, adequate materials will be obtained to support this project and further related research, advancing the scientific career of this female Co-PI. Results of this project will include unique information about development of the human skull and constraints on adaptive responses to stress.

该项目使用颅面不对称来识别人类头骨中发育中整合的特征。 了解颅面变异的正常范围以及对变异范围的局限性，是涉及人类头骨的研究的必要基础。 性格特征的发展整合会限制变异性，因为这些特征将作为一个单元增长，适应和进化。 该项目将确定通过直接发展互动（发展“模块”）整合的字符，并测试它们是否在压力条件下保持整合。 区分在压力下保持一致的融合模式对于适应，进化变化和物种形成的研究至关重要。不对称性不对称的研究的进步为识别发展综合的字符提供了一种创新的新方法。 波动不对称的定义为在个体样本中侧面变化的随机模式。 由于形态波动不对称的随机性质，两个字符波动不对称的显着协方差表明这些字符在发展上是整合的。 该项目由三个独立但相关的研究组成。 首先，该方法将应用于对正常成年头骨的分析，以测试有关颅骨整合的大量文献的预测。 其次，将使用过早融合的颅骨缝合线和正常对照组的儿童的数据来测试在生物力学约束应力下的整合。 最后，使用来自逆境不同的条件下的两个人类考古样本的数据来测试全身应力下整合的维持。 对于每次分析，Co-PI将从每个头骨上的生物学地标从生物学相关的地标收集三维坐标。 波动不对称将使用这些坐标数据和建立的形态计量学方法进行量化。 将测试协方差的模式以识别发育整合的字符。 项目资金允许Co-Pi参观各种博物馆住房骨骼收藏。 此外，还将获得足够的材料来支持该项目和进一步的相关研究，从而推动了这位女性副PI的科学生涯。 该项目的结果将包括有关人类头骨发展的独特信息以及对压力的适应性反应的约束。