Gossiping Ape

Question 1

Comparison of Darwin and Wallace on Human Evolution

Answer 1

Charles Darwin emphasized natural selection shaping human traits, including mental capacities, while Alfred Wallace proposed that spiritual and intellectual development in humans exceeded natural selection and required divine intervention

Question 2

Characteristics of Ardipithecus ramidus

Answer 2

1) lived approximately 4.4 million years ago, 2) exhibited both arboreal and bipedal traits, with a grasping big toe, 3) had a small brain size (~300-500 cc), similar to modern chimpanzees, and 4) likely walked upright on the ground but climbed trees for food and safety

Question 3

Kevin Hunt’s Hypothesis on Bipedalism

Answer 3

Early hominids became bipedal to reach and carry food. Upright posture improved access to tree branches and facilitated efficient transport of food while walking

Question 4

Aquatic Ape Theory of Bipedalism

Answer 4

Elaine Morgan proposed that early hominids adapted to semi-aquatic environments, developing bipedalism for wading in water, breath control for diving, and reduced body hair for streamlining

Question 5

Kanzi’s Limitation in Making Stone Tools

Answer 5

Kanzi, a bonobo, lacked the precise hand morphology and motor control to effectively strike rocks and create sharp-edged tools

Question 6

Consequences of Brain Modularity

Answer 6

1) specialization: different brain modules perform specific tasks, leading to expertise in areas like language or problem-solving and 2) isolation: damage to one module can impair a specific function without affecting others

Question 7

Brain Module

Answer 7

A network of neurons dedicated to a specific cognitive function, such as memory, language, or social interaction

Question 8

Williams Syndrome

Answer 8

A genetic condition caused by a deletion on chromosome 7, leading to unique social behaviors, strong verbal skills, musicality, and cognitive deficits in spatial reasoning

Question 9

Evolving a Theory of Mind

Answer 9

Developing the ability to attribute thoughts, beliefs, and emotions to oneself and others, enabling complex social interactions and empathy

Question 10

Andrew Whiten’s Selection Pressure for Brain Evolution

Answer 10

Larger brains in human ancestors evolved due to the need for social learning and problem-soling within complex social groups, fostering survival and reproduction

Question 11

Kristen Hawke’s Study on Binumarien People

Answer 11

Supports sociobiology by showing how cultural practices like cooperative childcare and food sharing enhance group survival and mirror evolutionary principles

Question 12

Hip-to-Waist Ratio and Attractiveness

Answer 12

Men prefer a 60-70% hip-to-waist ratio because it signals fertility and health, traits that are evolutionarily advantageous for reproduction

Question 13

Male-Female Conflicts in Animals

Answer 13

Differences in reproductive strategies lead to conflicts, such as males prioritizing mating opportunities while females focus on offspring care

Question 14

Ian Penton-Voak’s Survey on Women’s Preferences

Answer 14

Women preferred more masculine faces during ovulation, associated with genetic fitness, and more feminine faces during other cycle phases, signaling nurturing traits

Question 15

Stephen J. Gould’s Biological Spandrels

Answer 15

Traits that arise as byproducts of evolution, not through direct selection

Question 16

Language/Social Intelligence Module

Answer 16

Specialized brain regions facilitating communication, social interaction, and theory of mind, critical for human cultural and societal development

Question 17

Evidence for Brain Modules

Answer 17

Observations from brain damage studies show specific deficits (e.g., loss of language) tied to localized brain regions, confirming modular specialization

Question 18

Judy Kegl’s Nicaraguan Study (1986)

Answer 18

Observed deaf children creating a new sign language, demonstrating innate human capacity for language development and modular brain functions

Question 19

Discovery of Australopithecus afarensis

Answer 19

“Lucy,” discovered in Ethiopia in the 1970s, dates to 3.2 million years ago, revealing critical evidence of early bipedalism and transitional traits

Question 20

Australopithecus afarensis Traits

Answer 20

1) bipedal locomotion with evidence from pelvic and femoral structures, 2) chimp-like skull with human-like body, 3) small brain (~413 cc), and 4) arboreal traits like long arms, reduced canines, and an intermediate dental arcade

Question 21

Paedomorphosis

Answer 21

Retention of juvenile ancestral traits in adults, as seen in human skulls with rounded craniums and less protruding jaws compared to chimpanzees

Question 22

Examples of Biological Spandrels

Answer 22

1) umbilicus in land snails: a cylindrical space from shell coiling, not originally adaptive but later co-opted for egg storage in some species and 2) male nipples in humans: a byproduct of shared embryological development between sexes, functional in females for nursing but purposeless in males

Question 23

Human Skull and Brian Evolution

Answer 23

1) humans retained juvenile features (paedomorphism) like rounded craniums and smaller jaws, compared to chimpanzees, 2) sexual selection favored youthful traits signaling fertility (e.g., large eyes, small noses), and 3) brain expansion was facilitated by proportional skull changes, enhancing cognitive and social intelligence