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What is a trait? Lessons from the human chin

Meneganzin, Andra and Ramsey, Grant and DiFrisco, James (2024) What is a trait? Lessons from the human chin. JEZ-B Molecular and Developmental Evolution, 342 (2). pp. 65-75.

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Abstract

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.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Meneganzin, Andraandra.meneganzin@kuleuven.be0000-0003-3641-3803
Ramsey, Grantgrant@theramseylab.org0000-0002-8712-5521
DiFrisco, Jamesjames.difrisco@gmail.com0000-0001-9600-1013
Keywords: adaptation; biological character; biological trait; chin; human chin; measurement
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics
Specific Sciences > Biology > Systematics
Depositing User: Dr. Grant Ramsey
Date Deposited: 07 Apr 2024 05:05
Last Modified: 07 Apr 2024 05:05
Item ID: 23264
Journal or Publication Title: JEZ-B Molecular and Developmental Evolution
Publisher: Wiley
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.23249
DOI or Unique Handle: https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.b.23249
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Developmental Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics
Specific Sciences > Biology > Systematics
Date: 24 March 2024
Page Range: pp. 65-75
Volume: 342
Number: 2
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23264

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