The Evolution of the Human Hand With Dr. Erin Williams-Hatala

Dr. Erin Williams-Hatala   In this episode the Knowbodies were extremely excited to learn from Dr. Hatala about the Human hand, her involvement as a researcher and her captivating perspective on the evolution of human behavior that has molded the adaptations our hands poses today. In this podcast you we explore the following topics: The curious transition into a career in Hominid Paleobiology (and how easily that title rolls off Dr. Hatala’s tongue) The fascinating theories of human evolution and the impact our ancestor’s behavior had on forging the bodies we have now What does the original and current research suggest our hands are intended for? We discuss theories supporting the importance of our hands and the anatomical significance of how different wed be without them How do male crabs impress the ladies? Is there potential for the hand to continue to evolve given our modernized lifestyles Why cant a chimp win the prize at a carnival ball toss? Can chimps throw better or worse then humans?   Dr. Hatala’s BIOGRAPHY I was born in Ann Arbor, MI and lived there through high school. I moved to Grinnell, IA to attend Grinnell College where I studied Anthropology and Archaeology. In 2005 I joined the Hominid Paleobiology Doctoral Program in The George Washington University’s Center for the Advanced Study of Hominid Paleobiology, in Washington, DC. I received a Masters in Anthropology in 2007, a MPhil in Hominid Paleobiology in 2009, and a PhD in the same discipline in 2011. My dissertation and research as a NSF and L’Oreal USA for Women in Science postdoctoral fellow focused on human functional anatomy, the influence of biomechanical regiments on the evolution of human upper limb anatomy, and the biomechanics of making and using Paleolithic tools. I am very excited about beginning a new phase of research with a group of international collaborators, investigating the anatomy, functional anatomy, and biomechanics of (mainly tool-using) non-human primates.   Publications Williams-Hatala, EM; Hatala, KG, Hiles, S, Rabey, KN. “A lack of correspondence between entheseal morphology and muscle architecture in the modern human hand. In review, Scientific Reports. 2014 Williams, EM; Gordon, AD; Richmond, BG. 2012 Williams, EM; Gordon, AD; Richmond, BG. “Hand pressure distribution during Oldowan stone tool production.” Journal of Human Evolution 62:520-532. 2010 Williams, EM; Gordon, AD; Richmond, BG. “Upper limb kinematics and the role of the wrist during stone tool production.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 143:134-145. Williams-Hatala, EM. “Biomechanics of the human hand: from stone tools to computer keyboards.” in The Evolution of the Primate Hand: Perspectives from Anatomical, Developmental, Functional and Paleontological Evidence. Kivell, TL; Lemelin, P; Richmond, BG; and Schmitt, D (eds). Springer, New York, NY. In press