Flashcards
A species of human is known as a ______.
Hominin
True or False - There has only been one species of human (Homo sapiens) that has ever lived.
False - Archaeologists have uncovered between 15-20 species of human that have lived at different points over the last 7 million years.
Why are Homo sapiens the only species of hominin around today? (2 reasons)
All of the other hominins have either …
1. Gone extinct
2. Evolved into other hominins
What is the best theory for how a species can evolve into another species?
Natural Selection
What is natural selection?
The process through which species tend to develop traits that make them better fit for the environments they live in.
When sperm cell or egg cell are created an ____ can randomly occur and cause the new cell to contain ____ DNA
When sperm cell or egg cell are created an ERROR can randomly occur and cause the new cell to contain MUTATED DNA
If a mutated sperm/egg cell is successfully fertilized/fertilizes what will be passed to the child?
Mutated DNA
What happens to children who are born with mutated DNA?
They develop a random new trait that neither of their parents have.
Most of the time new traits that children with mutated DNA develop are ___ but sometimes they can be ____ or ____.
Most of the time new traits that children with mutated DNA develop are NEUTRAL but sometimes they can be HARMFUL or BENEFICIAL.
A random DNA mutation can give a child a helpful trait that makes them better fit for their environment.
What three things makes a species better for fit for their environment?
Better able to find food, avoid predators, and resist disease.
Can natural selection change a subset of a species just a little bit so that there’s variety in the species?
Yes
Can natural selection change a subset of a species so much that it becomes a whole new species?
Yes
One of the rules of natural selection is that the longer a species lives in an environment the __________
One of the rules of natural selection is that the longer a species lives in an environment the …
more fit for its environment it becomes.
One of the rules of natural selection is that when a species’ environment changes …
One of the rules of natural selection is that when a species’ environment changes …
it causes that species to evolve OR go extinct
What are the six of the key characteristics of a Homo sapiens?
1.) Bipedalism
2.) Our Bodies
3.) Large Brains
4.) Use of Tools
5.) Shelters and Use of Fire
6.) Use of Symbols
What five types of people are experts on Homo sapiens?
Historians
Archaeologists
Biologists
Anthropologists
Paleoanthropologists
