Biped and Autonomous: Bone microarchitecture of the Youngest, PAthological and Cultural Effects

ended

In this prosperous period in analyzing cultural impacts on human biology thanks to cutting-edge technologies, BABY PACE postulates bone microstructures as a way to approach human cultures. It aims to find how different cultural environments, in both normal and pathological contexts, have an impact on bone development during bipedal walking acquisition of the infants of the past. Bone microstructures, useful for human evolution issues, can also respond to the urgent need to understand development in living infants, impossible to get with micro-computed tomography. Cultures imply various definitions of important social steps. They influence as well the place of children in their society as their locomotor development. This milestone leads to variations in body use and so in bone biomechanics to which bone microstructures respond by adapting to them. The two BABY PACE’s phases (24 months, USA - 12 months, Italy) will for the first time allow developing a controlled model of the normal development of bone microstructures during the biped acquisition, based on the Certosa collection of identified non-adult skeletons. Comparisons between cultures, normal and pathological developments, and during a cultural transition will be performed against this model. Bone properties variations will highlight different developmental trajectories according to groups. BABY PACE is a strong base for projects could answer to society or public health issues related to desired or endured cultural changes. This international interdisciplinary project part of medical, life and past sciences will give to the Researcher the full background and maturity to be a recognized anthropologist, specialized in bone ontogeny. It responds to EU research priorities through the transfer of gained knowledge and partnerships development with leading experts in bone microstructures research. Not only is it improving employability and career prospects, but also contributes to the EU's competitiveness and growth.