Identifying the Skeletons You are a scientist specializing in investigating skeletalremains at the Earth Museum of Natural History. In today's mail youreceive a package of bones from some archeologists who have beenhunting for the last known location of a famous explorer, GabrielaMolina, age 54, and her two assistants, Cordelia Kelley, age 28,and Ian Dumais, age 24. Included in the package are sixwell-preserved arm and leg bones, each of which is labeled. Thereis one radius (R1) and one ulna (U1); these are the two bones thatconnect the wrist and elbow. There are two humerus bones (H1 andH2). The humerus connects the shoulder and the elbow. There are twofemurs (F1 and F2). The femur is the large bone in the thigh whichconnects the hip to the knee. The data chart, prepared by your assistant, indicates the lengthof each of these bones. These measurements can be used to estimatehow tall the deceased individuals might have been. Based on ratiosbetween bone lengths and body height, your assistant has calculatedpossible heights for the people whose bones you received. There isno evidence, however, to show whether the bones belonged to a manor a woman. Since the ratios of bone lengths to body height aredifferent for men and women, the chart includes estimates for bothgenders. For example, H1 is 39.1 centimeters long, and so couldhave come from a man who was 186.2-194.2 centimeters tall, or awoman who was 183.2-191.2 centimeters tall. Dr. Molina wasapproximately five feet five inches tall. Her female associate, Dr.Kelley, was approximately four feet ten inches tall. Mr. Dumais wassignificantly taller, but your files do not list a specific heightfor him. (Remember to convert height to metric system unitscm – centimeters) Specimen | Measurement | Male Height Range | Female Height Range | H1 | 39.1cm | 186.2-194.2cm | 183.2-191.2cm | H2 | 32.27cm | 164.5-172.57cm | 161.2-169.2cm | R1 | 19.5cm | 146.49-154.49cm | 141.5-149.45cm | U1 | 22.5cm | 150.9-158.97cm | 147.8-155.8cm | F1 | 49cm | 188.5-196.57cm | 169.5-177.5cm | F2 | 45.42cm | 180.47-188.47cm | 161.02-169.02cm |
Questions Write your answers. - From the data on the chart, what evidence supports the theorythat these bones might indeed be the remains of the lostscientists?
- Which bones could possibly belong to which scientist? How doyou know?
- Which bone is most difficult to assign to a certain individual?Why?
|