September 29, topic
#Chinese scientists confirmed that humans evolved from fish#
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Chinese scientist
The detailed process and specific significance of this discovery
The reporter interviewed the scientific research team -
Silurian 33D restoration diagram of five early ancient fish. (Photo provided by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Chinese scientists recently discovered the "Chongqing Special Buried Fossil Library" and the "Guizhou Shiqian Fossil Library" in the early Silurian strata about 440 million years ago in Chongqing, Guizhou and other places. provided for the first time the rise of jawed vertebrates and the earliest radiation differentiation, and based on this, a series of new discoveries have been made, refreshing the traditional understanding of the early evolution history of jawed vertebrates.
This study was completed by Academician Zhu Min's team of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The relevant results have formed 4 academic articles and were published online at the same time in the international academic journal Nature on the 28th.
"Chongqing Special Buried Fossil Library" fossil photo. (Photo provided by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
, including humans, 99.8% of existing vertebrates on the earth have jaw bones. The emergence and rise of jaws are one of the most critical leaps in the history of vertebrate evolution. However, when and where did this leap happen? And how did it happen? The scientific community has long lacked paleontological evidence, and there is a huge gap of at least 30 million years in the early evolution of jaws.
The discovery of fossil libraries in Chongqing and Guizhou fills this gap. The "Guizhou Shiqian Fossil Library" contains a large number of preserved jaw microbody fossils. The ancient fish fossils in the "Chongqing Special Buried Fossil Library" are not only numerous and complete in variety, but also very complete and exquisite in preservation. The research team used new technologies and methods such as high-precision CT and trait big data analysis to show the world the first jaw-like body structures and anatomy information.
Among them, the tooth rotation of the double-row Guizhou-toothed fish pushed the earliest fossil evidence of jawed teeth by 14 million years; the jawed Shen's sprigfish is the earliest well-preserved cartilage fish known to date, confirming that sharks evolved from the ancestor of "wearing a helmet and armor". The jawed fish Miracle Xiushan fish combines the characteristics of multiple shield-skinned fish major categories, providing precious information for exploring the origin of the main groups at the root of the jawed "tree of life" and the evolution of vertebrate skulls.
Siluruge Landovires Chongqing biota ecological restoration map. (Photo provided by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Zhu Min introduced that this discovery showed the appearance of the Silurian fish population, especially the jaw species, on a large scale, revealing the early rise of jaw species: As late as 440 million years ago, various major groups of jaw species had already flourished in South China; by the late Silurian period, more diverse and larger jaw species appeared and began to spread to the world.
"It can be foreseen that the 'Chongqing Special Buried Fossil Library' and the 'Guizhou Shiqian Fossil Library' will continue to make continuous contributions to solving the mysteries of the origin of jaws in the future." Zhu Min said.
newshots
fossil discovery process is quite "lucky"
According to the Beijing Daily client, scientists said in an interview that the process of the discovery of the fossil was also quite "lucky" factor: In 2019, the scientific research team carefully searched along a Xinhuipanshan Highway in Chongqing, and a messy pile of rocks on the side of the road. geological hammer accidentally knocked it and found the key to open the "treasure house" of fish fossils.
On a fossil slab that is only the size of a palm, dozens of fish fossils are clearly visible and vividly visible. "We never expected to find such a complete and exquisite fossil specimen in such an ancient strata." Zhu Min sighed.
Source: Xinhua Viewpoint Reporter Zhang Quan, Weibo @CCTV.com, Beijing Daily Client, netizens’ comments, etc. Copyright belongs to the original author. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete.
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