COURSE TITLE: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BIO 3302; Lecture, 10:00-11:15 am, TH; LSE 204
TEXT: Vertebrates:Comparative Anatomy, Function, Evolution, 6th ed. (2012), by Kenneth V. Kardong
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Stan Trauth, Professor of Zoology
OFFICE: LSW 146 (Electron Microscope Facility); office hours 4-5, M-H.
Fall, 2013
OBJECTIVES OF COURSE: Survey of vertebrate anatomy with emphasis on evolutionary history and homology.
Also, the functional significance of anatomical structures will be addressed.
TENTATIVE LECTURE OUTLINE--SUBJECT MATERIAL FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS:
Aug. 20-27
Aug. 29-Sept. 5
Sept. 10-17
Sept. 19
Sept. 24-26
Oct. 1-3
Oct. 8-10
Oct. 15-17
Oct. 22-24
Oct. 29
Oct. 31
Nov. 5-7
Nov. 12
Nov. 14
Nov. 19
Nov. 21
Nov. 25-30
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Introduction; Vertebrate Body Plan (Chpts 1, 2 & 4) – PPs 1-3
Vertebrate Classification (Chpt 3) – PPs 4-6
Early Vertebrate Morphogenesis (Chpt 5) – PP 7
1st EXAM
Integument (Chpt 6) – PP 8
Vertebrae (Chpt 8) – PP 9; Vertebrate Skull (Chpt 7) – PP 9
Appendicular Skeleton (Chpt 9) – PP 9
Muscles (Chpt 10) – PP 10
Digestive System (Chpt 13) – PP 11
2nd EXAM
Respiratory System (Chpt 11) – PP 12
Circulatory System (Chpt 12) – PP 13
Urogenital System (Chpt 14) – PP 14
Nervous System (Chpt 16) – PP 15
Sense Organs (Chpt 17) – PP 16; Endocrine Organs (Chpt 15) – PP 17
3rd Exam
Fall Break and Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 9 (Tuesday)
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FINAL EXAM (8:00-10:00 am)
Total Points: 500 pts. (300 pts.—Lecture Exams; 200 pts.—Comprehensive Final)
A - 450 pts.
B - 400-449
C - 350-399
D - 300-349
F < 299
Attendance is MANDITORY. Make-up exams MUST be taken no later than one lecture period following the original test date.
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Comparative Anatomy of
the Vertebrates
Introduction
Part 1
Figure 1.1. Aggregate of copperheads and
Individual tongue flicking.
Before birds, there
were carnivores by
which feathers
evolved.
Figure 1.2.
Evolutionary Relationships
Figure 1.3.
One theory of feather origin is based on
developmental stages that feathers exhibit today,
which are related to different theropod dinosaur
groups.

Teleology – a structure is acquired because it
“needs” it (i.e., intelligent design; this ideology
does not fall within the realm of scientific
investigation).

“Birds have wings; THEREFORE, they CAN fly.
They don’t spout wings because they NEED to
fly.” (Avoid the use of the word “need” in any
statement in Comparative Anatomy.)

Ontogeny- individual organism develops (e.g.,
embryo to adult).
In the evolutionary
process, is there a
push back to
juvenile stages?
Figure 1.4.
Time Magazine, Oct. 31, 2011
Figure 1.5.
Newborn Chimpanzee


Adult Chimpanzee
The newborn chimpanzee is strikingly humanlike (skull and hair), yet these characteristics are
lost as it matures (left to right).
Evolution by retaining juvenile characteristic
stages.
Figure 1.6.
Chimpanzee (female)
[95 mm]


Skull Comparisons
Neanderthal
[152 mm]
Modern Human
[135mm]
In comparing functionally important genes, humans and
chimpanzees are 99.4% similar.
Chimpanzees should be reclassified as Homo troglodytes
according to a recent study; currently humans are the only
species in the genus Homo.

Evolutionary Morphology- study of from and function
Birds: Loss of digits, some bones fused Bats: 5 digits, elongated metacarpals and phalanges
Pterosaurs: elongated fourth digit
Figure 1.7. Wing morphology.



Homology- two or more structures that share common
ancestry
Analogy- structures have similar functions
Homoplastic- structures look similar but distantly related

Morphology is the central
theme in evolutionary
biology.

Cuvier- considered
morphology to be
integration of form and
function
Figure 1.8. Fruit fly wing and pteranodon
wing analogous and homoplastic
structures but not homologous.
Figure 1.9. Forelimb bones.



Homology in type of bones present (e.g., carpals, humerus, etc.)
Adaptations give a variety of functions (e.g., walk, fly, swim, etc.)
Natural Selection- variations in organisms result in varying degrees of
success in competition (i.e., survival of the “reproductive” fittest)

Vertebrate
embryos are
structurally
similar in early
embryonic
stages.
Figure 1.10. Vertebrate embryo development.