Core concepts are fundamental to any scientific discipline, providing coherence and facilitating effective teaching. By highlighting unifying themes, educators can tailor their approach to different levels of students and instructor expertise, fostering deeper learning across biological subdisciplines. This method has proven successful in various biology fields. However, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, despite its long history, has lacked clearly defined core concepts. This article introduces five core concepts and seven competencies for Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, developed through extensive collaboration with vertebrate morphologists over three years.
The foundational concepts are: (A) Evolution, (B) Structure and Function, (C) Morphological Development, (D) Integration, and (E) Human Anatomy as a product of vertebrate evolution. Students of comparative vertebrate anatomy should cultivate the following core competencies: (F) Tree Thinking, (G) Observation, (H) Specimen Dissection, (I) Anatomical Depiction, (J) Appreciation for Natural History Collections, (K) Science Communication, and (L) Data Integration.
Each core concept and competency is briefly described below, along with examples of learning outcomes for assessment and relevant resources for educators and students. Furthermore, we address a crucial challenge within Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy: acknowledging and rectifying the historical influences of racism, androcentrism, homophobia, genocide, and slavery. Addressing these historical biases and their lasting impacts is essential for the discipline to evolve into a truly inclusive field that generates unbiased knowledge for the betterment of humanity.
While these core concepts and competencies are the result of a thorough and rigorous process, they are intended to serve as a starting point for ongoing discussion. This framework aims to ensure that Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy remains a dynamic and vital field for discovery, innovation, and the training of future generations of scientists.
