x Identifying the Skeletons You are a scientist specializing in investigating skeletal remains at the Earth Museum of...

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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.

  1. From the data on the chart, what evidence supports the theorythat these bones might indeed be the remains of the lostscientists?
  2. Which bones could possibly belong to which scientist? How doyou know?
  3. Which bone is most difficult to assign to a certain individual?Why?

Answer & Explanation Solved by verified expert
4.1 Ratings (460 Votes)
1fet 3048 cms 1 inch 254 cms It is given that height of Dr Molina was five feet five inches 55 tall approximately Hence height in centimetres cms can be calculated as 5 3048 5 254 1651 cms Height of Dr Kelley given as four feet ten inches 410 tall approximately So height in centimetres can be calculated as 4 3048 10 254 14732 cms Height of Dr Dumais    See Answer
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