Mammals

Fundamental transformations of the feeding system, especially jaws and teeth, occurred in early evolution of mammals. This transformation is accompanied by vital changes within feeding (such as jaw and teeth) and sensory function (such as sensitive hearing of high-frequency sound) among a whole suite of evolutionary innovations. The research focus of the AG Martin is mainly concerned with the origin of mammals but also investigates other key moments in mammalian evolution. Major research interests are jaws and dentition, chewing biomechanics, the evolution of the ear region and their adaptations in the history of mammals. We work with modern 3D methods such µCT scanning, surface segmentation and rendering, DiceCT, Occlusal Fingerprint Analysis (OFA), virtual animation and simulations. Our research contributes to the understanding of both chewing performance and hearing ability during crucial time frames in mammalian evolution.