Uploaded July 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Continuing our talk series, this lecture by Dr Duncan Murdock will discuss the first animals to build skeletons, and what they did with them. Half a billion years ago a bewildering array of animals evolved, bristling with shells, teeth and spines during a Cambrian explosion of skeletons. Dr Murdock will explain the what, when and how of when life got hard for animals, changing the world forever, and discuss the why of what caused this remarkable evolutionary event.
Dr Duncan Murdock is a Research Fellow at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Dr Murdock’s research is focused on using the fossil record to understand the early evolution of skeletons in animals. He uses high magnification electron microscopes and 3D X-ray imaging to study microscopic skeletal elements and determine the environmental and developmental drivers of biomineralisation in animals.
*Please note, this lecture may not be suitable for young children, but is suitable for adults and young people – beginners and experts welcome!
Visit our website: oumnh.ox.ac.uk
Visit the First Animals exhibition online: oumnh.ox.ac.uk/first-animals
Our First Animals models are available on the Sketchfab app, and are available for use under Creative Commons. Discover them here: sketchfab.com/morethanadodo
Your generous donations help to keep our public programmes running. Donate to the Museum: development.ox.ac.uk/museum-natural-history?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mnh&utm_content=channel
Continuing our talk series, this lecture by Dr Duncan Murdock will discuss the first animals to build skeletons, and what they did with them. Half a billion years ago a bewildering array of animals evolved, bristling with shells, teeth and spines during a Cambrian explosion of skeletons. Dr Murdock will explain the what, when and how of when life got hard for animals, changing the world forever, and discuss the why of what caused this remarkable evolutionary event.
Dr Duncan Murdock is a Research Fellow at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Dr Murdock’s research is focused on using the fossil record to understand the early evolution of skeletons in animals. He uses high magnification electron microscopes and 3D X-ray imaging to study microscopic skeletal elements and determine the environmental and developmental drivers of biomineralisation in animals.
*Please note, this lecture may not be suitable for young children, but is suitable for adults and young people – beginners and experts welcome!
Visit our website: oumnh.ox.ac.uk
Visit the First Animals exhibition online: oumnh.ox.ac.uk/first-animals
Our First Animals models are available on the Sketchfab app, and are available for use under Creative Commons. Discover them here: sketchfab.com/morethanadodo
Your generous donations help to keep our public programmes running. Donate to the Museum: development.ox.ac.uk/museum-natural-history?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mnh&utm_content=channel
