Mammalian Middle Ear Evolution

The definitive mammalian middle ear (DDME) is an amazing organization of bones and soft tissue that give mammals the ability to hear in the broad frequency range that they can. The mammalian ear is substantially different than the reptilian ear from which we supposedly evolved.So there must have been changes along the way. This is a well documented evolutionary story from the fossil record.... DDMEModern Mammals all have the DDME. My question is according to the DDME theory above, when did the DDME actually evolve according to the theory. In other words, when did the ossicles separate and form the three bones in the DMME. If I understand correctly, it must have been sometime after Yanoconodon. Is this correct?Edited by AdminNosy, : changed title

Yes, I understand the homoplasy and convergent evolution. So what is the upper bound when the DMME shows in the fossil record? If I understand correctly, Yanoconodon was about 125mya. And it was a "transitional before the DMME. The DDME is a characteristic of all "modern mammals". So from 70mya or so all or most mmamals have the DDME. Correct? So did it appear between 125 and 70 mya or would this be a prediction of ToE.

I disagree. Certainly the time frame is determined by the fossil record, but ToE makes predictions about the transitionals in the fossil record. The theory is only as good as its predictions, Right?According to the wiki article, and the Nature article the fossil record would be consistent with ToE. Right? That means the fossil record is in accordance with the theory.That also means that there is a potential falsification about the prediction of ToE (not the whole theory)within the DDME development. For instance what if the DDME was found in the earliest mammals. This would be in conflict with the ToE, Right?Therefore, I am trying to find out what the ToE predicts about the reptile mammalian fossil record regarding the DMME. Does ToE predict that the earliest mammal didn't have the DMME? We know modern mammals are defined somewhat after the dinosaur extinction roughly 70mya. We know Yanoconodon did not have DDME at 125mya. Base on what we know from the fossil record, what does ToE predict regarding the DDME? Or does ToE predict anything about the DDME.In other words, predictions are made before the fossils are found. And of course the before mentioned literature is in agreement with the ToE prediction. The question is what if fossils are found out of sequence showing the DMME much earlier in the fossil record. Does this falsify the prediction (not the theory) and what if the earliest mammals had the DMME leaving no evolutionary story or time to evolve. That would be a potential falsification of the OoS part of ToE wouldn't it?

Unfortunately for you, this statement is patently false. Yanoconodon is an early mammal, and it doesn't have the DDME according to the Nature article. There are many others early mammal fossils, but DDME data is not available on all of themAll reptiles have the reptilian ear. Modern mammals have DDME. That only leaves the transitions to be in both reptiles and early mammals.What I am trying to establish is does ToE actually make any predictions. Or does it just morph the theory to the data? ToE should be able based on the current level of substantial mammalian fossil record to predict roughly when the DMME arose. In physics there are many mathematical equations associated with theories. The math is not data, but it predicts certain data should exist. Then if the data is found that supports the prediction then the theory gains credibility. GR and BBT are great examples of this.How about ToE? What does it predict about the DMME? If it predicts what has been found according to the citations, (which everone so far is agreeing that it predicted)then that means the the DMME should appear sometime after 125mya.

Are you laughing at your own mistake. It is you who said that: Did you not? You are mistaken. The ToE does not say that. Pre-mammalian ancestors are reptilian transitionals. There are mammals that do not have the DDME. The ToE does say that the DDME evolved partially in reptiles and then continued into mammals until it became what is known as the DMME in modern mammals. Yes fossils are evidence. But the ToE predicts things that haven't been found. You used Tiktaalik as an example. Probably a fair example of a prediction before the find. That's how it should work. Now my question is what is the prediction of ToE about when the DDME ear evolved? If it can predict Tiktaalik, can't the theory predict the first DDME find? Isn't that the same principle? Would it predict J1,J2,J3,K1 or K2 for instance? That's the question.Does ToE based on the fossil evidence of the ear and jaw predict that the DMME evolved sometime after 125mya, before 125mya, closer to 70mya, or pick any number. Based on the evidence that we currently have, what would or does the theory predict?