Paleontology Career Path

The science of paleoanthropology, which also tries to create a narrative about how humans came to be, is deeply technical. Paleoantropology is the science of the evolution of humans, and it is the base of all research in that field. Humans have undergone many different changes during the last hundred

Fossils grant us opportunity of understanding about species which no longer exist on Earth- that are extinct. The prehistoric remains inform us about plants and

Ichnology, the study of trace fossils, is the principal study in following and learning about trace fossils and how these fossil types indicate habitats. Ichnologists can use trace fossils, such as a track way and walking patterns of dinosaurs, to determine the specific area a dinosaur walked on, which can express a dinosaur species preferred habitat. By examining sedimentary layers and structures, ichnologists can use fossilized tracks to determine what specific habitat a species of dinosaur lived in. The use of uniformitarianism can be used to conclude what specific environment a dinosaur lived in through sedimentary structures. Ichnology uses tracks to determine what habitat a dinosaur inhabited by the pattern that a dinosaur walked in. With nests, Ichnologists can use information to determine what habitat a species of dinosaur lived in to ensure a safe environment for the eggs. Ichnologists can determine if a species of dinosaur stayed in a specific environment by studying the walking patterns of track ways and the indications of dinosaur nests. Ichnologists use track ways and nests to determine preferred habitats due to a plethora of trace fossils that a species of dinosaur can make in its

Paleontology or paleobiology is the study of plant, animal, and microorganism fossils found on the earth. Paleobotany focuses on algae, fungi, mosses, ferns, seed plants

From both the title of the chapter and the introduction by Dr. Shubin, this chapter begins with a focus on teeth. Because the function of teeth is to break down food before it enters the esophagus, the different shapes of teeth can represent many different things about the organism it belongs to including what type of eater it was (carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore). Teeth are the hardest tissue (not bone) in the human body and therefore fossilize well. As Dr. Shubin stated in chapter one, there must be many points that permit a fossil to make any kind of scientific conclusion. Obviously, the state of their presence is important, so the fact that teeth preserve well allows for them to be great specimens for analysis. Dr. Shubin and his team analyzed fossilized teeth in areas as different as Nova Scotia and the Arizona desert. Studying different fossils in these diverse regions allowed the team to see that mammalian and reptilian teeth are very different. For example, mammalian teeth differ from organism to organism to fit with the organisms need (Cheetahs that eat only meat will have different teeth than deer who are herbivores) and are replaced only once in the lifetime of the organism while reptilian teeth are usually sharp and are constantly replaced if damaged. These differences allowed scientists to characterize fossils as either a reptile or a mammal. Similar to Tiktaalik discussed in chapter one, the discovery of fossils that were part reptile and part mammal allowed the researchers to see that mammals evolved from reptiles, and further supported the theory of evolution. Further studies yielded even more

The first chapter of the book discusses the way we can use fossil records to study the biological world. Fossils are one of the major lines of evidence we use to understand ourselves. Surprisingly, we are able to discover them with a high amount of precision and predictability. In particular, field paleontologists have it easier than it has ever been before due to the current information age. The physical hunt for important fossils, however, is much like it has always been. Three factors limiting the number of useful fossil sites include rock age, type (whether or not it can preserve fossils), and number of exposed rocks. So, it takes a bit of luck to reliably find fossils. Thankfully, rock

The education and training required to become an embalmer differs from any other job you can think of. They have their own schools, called mortuary science schools. Most embalmers are required to have an associate’s degree, although some are required to have a bachelor’s degree. This means they’ll endure up to four years of mortuary science school. There are sixty accredited mortuary science schools in America but the top three are: 1. Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science 2. Worsham College of Mortuary Science 3. Dallas Institute of Funeral Service

When one thinks of important scientific figures hailing from Europe, people such as Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, or Marie Curie are the first to come to mind. Few are familiar with Mary Anning. Although an obscure figure, Anning was one of the most significant contributors to paleontology, known by some as “the greatest fossilist the world ever knew” (Torrens 257).

In the science of paleontology, the history of life is studied. Paleontologists study fossils to learn the past ecologies, evolution, and the origins of humans. In order to understand the processes that have led to both the origination and destruction of organisms since life began, paleontologists incorporate both scientific knowledge and studies. Fossil findings are critically important for confirming predictions of evolution theory. Of the many discoveries that are made yearly to add depth to the understanding of evolution, an example is a recent discovery of a creature they named Tiktaalik. The Tiktaalik was uncovered to be a transitional animal between shallow-water fishes and limbed animals. The creature supports the idea that it emerged from both mammals and reptiles, suggesting that the two are related. These findings support prediction of evolution, contradicting the belief that God

Because dinosaurs are animals that lived millions of years ago, we are entirely dependent on the fossils that they have left behind for any understanding that we hope to gain. As any paleontologist will tell you, fossil hunting is difficult. There are no certainties, no guarantees. A certain amount of luck is as valuable as any scientific knowledge.

The fossil record is evidence of evolution. Fossils are often fingerprints of evolution. They help scientists track how species evolved

: Fossils are the remains or traces of ancient organisms which have been preserved. For example, a fossil can exist as skeletal remains or even as a footprint. Such organisms are subjected to a slow rate of decaying since they have been rapidly buried under conditions that facilitate this. It is common for fossils to occur as hard-bodied organisms as these are more resistant to environmental influences. Fossils are usually found embedded in rock. The layers of rock are of different age and makeup. Hence fossils found in one layer would vary in characteristics from those found in another layer. They can be observed and analyzed through visual as well as radiometric means so that the age and morphology can be determined. These features indicate

If you are interested in adventuring the depths of the ocean, being a marine biologist is the job for you. As a marine biologist you will need to have several years of schooling in order to have a successful career. Being a marine biologist can be an enjoyable and dangerous job, but the journey is worth the ride.

I personally like all the subfields of anthropology, but biological anthropology is the one that I feel I can be part off. Archaeology is fascinating to me I wish I was brave enough to work on the sites, the drawback I see for me are the snakes and other crawling creatures around the sites. I think I would need time getting used to that, but the work behind archaeology must be exceptionally.

There were many problems that Paleontologist and Archeologist face that needed other skills. For example, Emile discovered “Quaternary animals along with Paleolithic artefacts and portions of two human skeletons.” Emile noticed that the human fossil was of great difference in appearance and density and concluded that the human was much younger. Many other paleontologist and archeologist disagreed with Emile and had a debate that lasted for 10 years. Emile collaborated with Adolphe Carnot, who was a chemist, mining engineer, and had geology background. Adolphe Carnot was able to prove that Emile’s discovery of the human body was actually much younger than the animal by using the fluorine dating method to determine that the animal had much more fluorine in it than the human did. The human body can accidentally have ended up in the same place as the