Hi All,
Next week we will have practice presentations for SVP meeting. If you want to try out and get comments for your own presentation let me know, there is still room (also others than SVP talks are welcome, but it should take max 12min).
See you on Tuesday 4.10.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina
Hi All,
next week we will have a visitor from University of Cambridge; Rachel O´Meara will give us a talk titled “Understanding enamel formation and growth in non-mammalian cynodonts”. I hope I can see many of you in this interesting club meeting!
Abstract: “The evolution of mammals from non-mammals is associated with the linked evolutionary origin of several important characters, including diphyodont tooth replacement, mammal-like rapid juvenile growth and determinate adult growth. These characters likely evolved in the extinct cynodont and basal mammaliamorph lineages of the Triassic and early Jurassic, with Morganucodon the most basal known mammaliamorph to have had both mammal-like growth and diphyodonty. Histological techniques to assess periodic enamel increments have not previously been applied to non-mammalian cynodonts and mammaliamorphs, and are likely to improve understanding of their dental replacement and growth patterns. We prepared histological thin sections of postcanines of eight species of non-mammalian cynodont, and teeth from crown mammals and diapsids. Polarised light microscopy revealed two orders of incremental lines, resembling the daily laminations and longer period striae of Retzius of crown mammalian enamel, in all non-mammalian cynodont specimens. We used MANOVA to compare two measures of enamel growth, daily secretion rate (DSR) and crown extension rate (CER), in extant groups and in two non-mammalian cynodont groups, non-probainognathians and mammaliamorphs. DSR in all cynodont species was similar to that of non-hypsodont mammals. However, CER was extremely high in non-probainognathians, with enamel extending rapidly in sheath-like layers, in comparison with the gradual accretion of enamel in the more crownward mammaliamorphs. This is consistent with the reduction in rates of dental replacement in mammaliamorphs, which would permit slower crown extension, while greater rates of replacement in more basal non-probainognathians may have required more rapid rates of formation. In addition, it is possible that the low rate of ameloblast differentiation, which causes low CER in mammaliamorphs, may be coupled with reduced function of osteoblasts. This would suggest reduced rates of bone growth during late molar formation in these animals, which would be consistent with a more mammal-like, abrupt termination of growth in mammaliamorphs in comparison with more basal cynodonts, which likely had a more extended period of adult growth.”
See you on Tuesday 20.9.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina
Hi,
we were talking about this in the club, and here is the english version of the news on the Univ. Helsinki’s webpage:
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/herbivorous-diet-may-have-killed-the-cave-bear
Janina
Hi All,
next week we will have a (discussion) session which introduces classes and courses suitable for paleo studies. The target is our new students, but veterans of our subject are very welcome to join and share their own experiments, and maybe you learn something new at the same time!
See you on Tuesday 13.9.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina
Ps. remember to join Nimenhuuto and click “in” if you’re coming! http://kurten-club.nimenhuuto.com/public_join
Pps. I have now updated the picture of Björn Kurtén on our webpage, thanks Mikael for the photo! https://blogs.helsinki.fi/bk-club/who-was-bjorn-kurten/
Hi All,
let’s start the autumn term of Kurten club on next week by a planning meeting! If anyone has ideas what we can do this autumn, please don’t hesitate to bring them up. I already have some names in my list to give talks, but all possibilities are considered. If you can’t come physically, you can always send suggestions by email.
See you on Tue 6.9.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina
Ps. remember to join Nimenhuuto and click “in” if you’re coming!
http://kurten-club.nimenhuuto.com/public_join
Hi All,
Next week we will have a presentation by Farhat Kaya titled: “The Rise and Fall of the Old World Savanna Fauna and the Origins of the African Savanna Biome”. You are all warmly welcome to join the club meeting!
See you on Tue 19.4.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina
Hello All,
on next Tuesday 8.3.2016 we will have a regular discussion meeting. We will continue the discussion about an excursion and other topics that might come up. If you have any interesting articles, please bring them with you!
See you on Tue 8.3.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina
Ps. remember to join Nimenhuuto and click “in” if you’re coming!
http://kurten-club.nimenhuuto.com/public_join
Hi,
next week is going to be an article session and now we have four articles to discuss. Thanks to everyone who contributed! Please read the articles before the club. We have one article of dino tracks, one of Cenozoic Patagonia, one of steam cell speciation in different matrix (developmental biology people needed!) and one of marine vertebrates response to climate change. Enjoyable weekend for everyone! (Articles attached on the club email and next post in this site)
See you on Tue 9.2.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina
Hi All,
next week we are going to have Kurten Club movie night!
The movie will be The Croods. The film is set in a fictional prehistoric Pliocene era known as “The Croodaceous” (a prehistoric period which contains fictional prehistoric creatures) when a caveman’s position as a “Leader of the Hunt” is threatened by the arrival of a prehistoric genius who comes up with revolutionary new inventions as they trek through a dangerous but exotic land in search of a new home. (Wikipedia). Running time is 98 minutes.
Bring your own snacks and drinks!
See you on Tue 2.2.2016 at 16.00 in C108, Physicum!
Janina