What is a trait? Lessons from the human chin.
adaptation
biological character
biological trait
chin
human chin
measurement
Journal
Journal of experimental zoology. Part B, Molecular and developmental evolution
ISSN: 1552-5015
Titre abrégé: J Exp Zool B Mol Dev Evol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101168228
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
25 Mar 2024
25 Mar 2024
Historique:
revised:
14
02
2024
received:
17
10
2023
accepted:
19
02
2024
medline:
26
3
2024
pubmed:
26
3
2024
entrez:
26
3
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
The chin, a distinguishing feature of Homo sapiens, has sparked ongoing debates regarding its evolutionary origins and adaptive significance. We contend that these controversies stem from a fundamental disagreement about what constitutes a well-defined biological trait, a problem that has received insufficient attention despite its recognized importance in biology. In this paper, we leverage paleoanthropological research on the human chin to investigate the general issue of character or trait identification. First, we examine four accounts of the human chin from the existing literature: the mandibular differential growth byproduct, the bony prominence, the inverted T-relief, and the symphyseal angle. We then generalize from these accounts and propose a three-stage framework for the process of character identification: description, detection, and justification. We use this framework to reinterpret the four accounts, elucidating key points of contention surrounding the chin as well as other morphological characters. We show that debates over the chin carry broad and important biological implications that extend beyond this trait and that are not mere semantic issues of definition.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Subventions
Organisme : Cancer Research UK
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Medical Research Council
Pays : United Kingdom
Organisme : Wellcome Trust
Pays : United Kingdom
Informations de copyright
© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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