Core Insights - The article discusses a significant evolutionary transition in mammalian jaw joints, highlighting new findings that reshape the understanding of this evolutionary process [2][3]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study published in Nature reveals new evidence and hypotheses regarding the evolution of jaw joints in mammaliamorphs, based on two fossil specimens with novel secondary jaw joint morphologies [3][5]. - The first specimen, Polistodon chuannanensis, is a large herbivorous triconodont from the Middle Jurassic, exhibiting a unique dentary-squamosal secondary jaw joint, marking a breakthrough in understanding jaw joint morphology in quadrupeds [5][6]. - The second specimen, Camurocondylus lufengensis, from the Late Jurassic, has a simpler dentary condyle structure, supporting the hypothesis that the mammalian dentary condyle originated from the posterior end of the dentary ridge, filling a morphological gap in the transition from early theriodonts to early mammaliaforms [6][7]. Group 2: Evolutionary Implications - The diverse joint structures indicate repeated evolutionary experiments in advanced theriodonts, with secondary jaw joints arising independently multiple times, while the weight-bearing dentary-squamosal joint is a synapomorphic trait of mammaliamorphs [7]. - Factors such as size reduction, mandibular muscle reorganization, feeding ecology, and masticatory behavior are suggested to have influenced this evolutionary transition, emphasizing the role of ecological pressures and developmental flexibility in shaping jaw joint evolution [7]. - A concurrent article in Nature discusses unexpected bone connections in ancient mammalian ancestors, providing insights into how structural innovations in evolution can overcome functional limitations, thus offering a window into vertebrate morphological adaptive evolution [7].

Group 1 - The article highlights the evolutionary connections between various animal species, emphasizing that many seemingly unrelated creatures share common ancestors and maternal instincts [5][12][35] - It discusses the maternal behaviors of different species, illustrating how these behaviors have been passed down through generations, such as the unique nursing techniques of whales and hippos [10][14][38] - The article also mentions the surprising relationships between species like shrimp and isopods, showcasing how their ancestors transitioned from aquatic to terrestrial environments [19][20][24] Group 2 - The piece elaborates on the ancient lineage of horseshoe crabs and scorpions, noting their shared evolutionary traits and reproductive strategies [27][30] - It describes the nurturing methods of stingrays and sharks, highlighting the stark differences in their reproductive approaches despite their close genetic ties [44][47] - The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of modern DNA technology in uncovering these relationships and the significance of maternal care across species in the evolution of life [56][58]

这是一个你或许不曾发现的真相：所有的颠覆式创新，一开始都是毫不起眼的；几乎所有创新都出现在它们的 时代之前。 无论是自然界的物种进化，还是人类文化的创新，许多突破性成果并非诞生于其黄金时代，而是早在环境成熟 前就已萌芽，却因认知局限、技术瓶颈或时代错位沉寂数百年，直到某个契机被唤醒并重塑世界。 奥地利进化生物学家安德烈亚斯·瓦格纳在其新作《唤醒创新睡美人》中为我们详细阐述了这个道理。他用丰富 的案例告诉我们，创新并非依赖个别天才的灵光乍现，而是概率、环境和偶然性的共同产物。 那么如何唤醒创新"睡美人"？瓦格纳指出：最伟大的创新或许就藏在最不起眼的角落，而你需要的，或许只是 一份耐心、一双发现的眼睛，以及敢于打破边界、拥抱不确定性的勇气。 本文选编自《唤醒创新睡美人》。荐读之。 《唤醒创新睡美人》 作 者 ： [ 奥 ] 安 德 烈 亚 斯 ·瓦格 纳 译者： 贾拥民 出版时间：2 0 2 5年3月 出版社：湛庐文化 浙江科学技术出版社 地球上最成功的生物是什么？许多人给出的答案是狮子或大白鲨这样的顶级掠食者，还有一些人可能说是 鸟、昆虫或细菌。很少有人会想到，草也完全可以称得上是最成功的生物。 草这种生物至少 ...