University of Montana
Please enter a search term
Home About Contact
Artifacts from the Mike Mansfield Collection A Walk Through Time

A Walk Through Time

  1. Home
  2. A Walk Through Time
  3. Panel 55: Reverberating Chords
Panel 55: Reverberating Chords

Panel 55: Reverberating Chords

Download

Human beings belong to the phylum Chordata, all members of which have notochords, cartilage rods down the middle of the back, at some time during their life history. Chordata include all vertebrates (..

more »

Human beings belong to the phylum Chordata, all members of which have notochords, cartilage rods down the middle of the back, at some time during their life history. Chordata include all vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish) along with several groups of lesser know marine animals. Details of the evolutionary path of notochords from sea-squirts to jawless fish to bony fish remain obscure.
Whatever the precise path, the backbone that enables us to stand before this exhibit panel speaks to the wonder of evolution. Branches, truncations, mergers — as evolutionary continuity — span nearly 4000 million years.

« less
Previous Item
Next Item
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy policy