˗ˏˋ genus homo ´ˎ˗

Question 1

what are the features of the genus homo?

Answer 1

• large brain size
• smaller, flatter face
• smaller jaws and teeth
• increased use of culture
• larger overall body size
• longer legs/shorter arms
• decline in sexual dimorphism

Question 2

what role does climate change play in human evolution?

Answer 2

• climate change happens throughout the history of earth
• current issues are around human-caused climate change
• pleistocene epoch (2.6 million years to 11,000 years ago), also known as the ice age
• cycles between interglacial (warm/wet) and glacial (cool/dry)

Question 3

what is the pleistocene epoch?

Answer 3

• geography and climate affect hominin migration
• paleoclimate of Africa are grasslands that expanded and shrunk
• new homo adaptations: new foods, cultural solutions (tools), and behavioral adaptations

Question 4

what is homo habilis?

Answer 4

• name means “handy” or “skilled”
• possibly the earliest members of our genus
• 2.5mya - 1.7 mya
• found in east and south africa (olduvai gorge, tanzania)
• 650cc (big brain)
• agile hands, great for tool-making

Question 5

what are the key traits of homo habilis?

Answer 5

• rounded skull
• less facial prognathism
• dentition
• smaller teeth
• thinner enamel
• parabolic dental arcade
• postcrania similar to australopithecus

Question 6

what is developmental plasticity?

Answer 6

the capability of an organism to modify its phenotype during development in response to environmental cues.

Question 7

what is the oldowan tool industry?

Answer 7

• oldest stone tool industry
• 2.5-1.6 mya
• “flake and chopper” tools
• purpose: butchering animals, meat-eating, and more protein and calories

Question 8

what is homo erectus?

Answer 8

• 1.8 mya to approx. 200,000 ya
• found in africa, asia, and europe
• larger brain (~900cc)
• first hominin to migrate out of africa and colonize asia and later europe

Question 9

what are the key traits of homo erectus?

Answer 9

• long, low skull
• thick cranial bones
• sagittal keel: a thickened area along the top of the skull
• less prognathism
• smaller teeth
• receding chin
• more modern body size and proportions

Question 10

what is the acheulean tool industry?

Answer 10

• characterized by teardrop-shaped stone handaxes flaked on both sides
• 1.5 mya
• symmetrical, bifacial flaking that required planning and skill
• coordination, cooperation
• forms: handaxes, scrapers, cleavers, and flake tools

Question 11

what was the homo erectus diet?

Answer 11

• more meat-eating
• large brain required more calories (brains consume 20% of caloric intake)
• dietary variability
• primary foods: roots, bulbs, tubers

Question 12

what are the outcomes of cooking foods?

Answer 12

• smaller tooth and jaw size
• larger brain
• larger body
• smaller gut

Question 13

when was the earliest fire?

Answer 13

1.5 mya in koobi fora, kenya