Résumé
This lecture will explore the deep history of our bodies, one that extends billions of years. As we uncover new fossils, understand the patterns and mechanisms that form diverse animal bodies, and compare the anatomy of organ systems of creatures alive today, we find that every structure in our bodies contains artifacts of our branch of the tree of life. Our limbs are based on the pattern of bones first seen in ancient fish as is the patterns of nerves, muscles, and organs in our circulatory, excretory, and nervous systems. The profound connections we share with the rest of life of our planet also inform biomedical studies. Analyses of fish play important roles in understanding and treating diverse human diseases.
