Mosaic evolution in animals highlights varying evolutionary shifts in different features within a population. Human evolution shows bipedalism and brain development occurred independently but were interconnected.
By Brad Nakase, Attorney
Email | Call (888) 600-8654
Have a quick question? I answered nearly 1500 FAQs.
The occurrence of varying degrees of evolutionary shifts in distinct bodily features and functions within a particular population of animals is known as mosaic evolution.
The several elephant species’ developmental patterns provide an illustration of natural selection. With limited forehead foreshortening, the Indian elephant had rapid juvenile molar change. Parallel modifications occurred in the African elephant, albeit at opposite rates: the molar modification happened later in growth, whereas the forehead foreshortening happened earlier.
Similar to this, man’s early development or natural selection of mechanisms for bipedal movement coincided with no change in the size or shape of his skull; subsequently, however, both the skull and the brain rapidly grew to reach the developmental stage associated with the modern human race.
It would appear from the occurrence of mosaic evolution that the different components and roles of emerging organisms are subject to distinct effects from natural selection. In the context of human evolution, then, the necessity for a sophisticated brain was subordinated to the evolutionary requirements and selection for an erect posture.
Additionally, it is likely that the liberation of the front limbs facilitated by bipedal movement was connected to the development of the brain. Contributions to broad evolutionary theory are considerably enhanced by the analysis of mosaic evolution and selection cases.
Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.
See all blogs: Business | Corporate | Employment Law
Most recent blogs:
Contact our attorney.