Bending Fossils: Experiments In Paleontology (Harvard Adventures, Part 3)

Our ability to use today's technology in unique and novel ways is a major part of scientific discovery. In this episode, Dr. Stephanie Pierce shows us how she uses 3D modeling software to experiment on the bones of animals that went extinct millions of years ago, in order to figure out how they moved and walked.
This is the final installment in a three-part series supported in part by The Field Museum, the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, and The National Science Foundation (!!!!). Watch Parts 1 and 2 here:
Big thanks to Drs. Ken Angielczyk, Stephanie Pierce, and Katrina Jones for their immense help and accommodation during the creation of this series.
Want to learn more about this research? Here's the gist:
Mammals are known for their great range of locomotor behaviors, including unique gaits such as galloping and bounding. These gaits are made possible by the subdivision of the backbone into two distinct regions: the thoracic region, which bears ribs and aids in breathing; and the lumbar region, which is ribless, highly mobile and functions in locomotion. Combined, these two sections of the backbone allow mammals to breathe and move simultaneously, permitting the use of high speed gaits for prolonged periods of time. But, how did this key mammalian trait evolve? Using cutting-edge 3D technology, along with the rich fossil record of mammals and their ancestors, this research will trace the origin and evolution of the mammalian backbone and its link with the development of mammal-specific locomotor behaviors. The work will deepen our understanding of the history of a key characteristic of mammals and part of the skeleton that is of great medical importance.
Retrieved from:
"Dimetrodon is Not a Dinosaur"
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Producer, Writer, Creator, Host:
Emily Graslie
Producer, Editor, Camera, Graphics:
Brandon Brungard
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This episode is supported in part by:
The Field Museum in Chicago, IL
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And filmed on location at:
The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University
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The National Science Foundation:
Grants NSF EAR-1524938 and EAR-1524523
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