your+inna+fish+GMS

Monroe Stadler 8-18-08 Human Biology

(1) Describe at least three important PHYSICAL traits in humans that were found in fish first. Humans have a centralized brain in a protective skull. All sensory organs are attached to our heads. Our mouths come from fish. Our sensory organs come in sets like our ears, nostrils and eyes. (2) Describe a SOCIAL trait in humans that was found in fish first. Fish have really complex social systems like humans. They have relationships between each other similar to how humans have relationships. They cooperate with each other and help each other out. (3) What is an African cichlid and what behavior do they have that resembles social behavior in humans. Describe. African Cichlid are fish that live in groups of ten or more. There is a pair of fish that breed while the other ones are subservient. The relationship being that the helpers work for the dominant fish and in return they gain protection and a place to stay. Similar to how people rent apartments. (4) Why is it interesting that female guppies may go through menopause? The reason it is interesting is it might explain why older human women go through menopause. (5) Which genes in humans shifted color during migration from one part of the world to another and also shift in color in fish? Skin pigmantation shifted in humans when they emigrated from Africa. Fish’s color also changed as they went from salt to fresh water. (6) What is the significance to human biology that fish are the oldest group of vertebrates? That possibly all living vertebrates evolved from fish considering the resemblances in all the vertebrates species. (7) Competition and predation among fish species led to the evolution of two important physical traits found in humans. What are these two traits and how did competition and predation spur their evolution? Teeth and jaws helped with predation and defense because teeth allowed smaller fish to fight back against bigger fish who would normally just eat them. Another evolution of fish is the ability to exit the water and have enough upper body strength to do push ups. They developed strong upperbodies. Regarding the NPR interview with the author of Your Inner Fish, Neil Shubin (8) What is unusual about the Tiktaalik? It has fins but it also has wrists and palms which is very unique. It’s a supposed link between fish evolving into humans. Its half of a fish and the other have having a strong enough upper body to leave the ocean and eat food on land. Its very unique and supports the argument that humans evolved from fish. (9) What bones in the "arm" of a Tiktaalik are also found in human arms? Humorous, elbow joint, forearm bones, wrist bones, finger bones. (10) Explain why a hiccup be a relic of our fish ancestors? Creatures with gills and lungs both hiccup and even some fish breathe through a hiccup. tadpoles do it