Human Evolution Flashcards

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1
Q

What are Primates?

A

is the name given to the order of mammals which share a common ancestor and hence many structural similarities.

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2
Q

What is Bipedal?

A

Walking on two legs
(e.g. humans)

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3
Q

What is Quadrapedalism?

A

Walking on all fours
(e.g. monkeys)

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4
Q

Advantages of being bipedal?

A
  • both hands are free = precision grip and power grip
  • use hands for other tasks = better survival chance
  • precision grip = Can make tools
  • less trees and brachiating = Further walking distances = bipedal is more efficient
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5
Q

What is Brachiating?

A

Swinging from trees

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6
Q

Where is the frontal lobe found?What’s it for?

A

Found in front of brain (forehead area)
used for:
- thinking
- problem solving
- emotions
-behaviour control
- decision making

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7
Q

Where is the Cerebellum found?What’s it for?

A

Bottom of brain near brain stem
used for:
- fine motor skills
-hand-eye co-ordination
-balance

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8
Q

What is Cultral evolution?

A

transmission of behaviour and language over time. Can happen continuously within a lifetime and change is relatively rapid.

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9
Q

Name and discuss the four major tool cultures?
(Tools used)

A

Oldowan - 2.5 MYA - Homo habillis - knocked from several angles to make a core with a cutting edge

Acheulian - 1.7 MYA - Homo Erectus- ‘tear drop’ shape - Flint or Basalt used - many knocks to remove more flakes

Mousterian - 0.5MYA - Homo neanderthalensis - Flint - struck with another object, striking oval flake that would be used (Levallois method)
- scraper

Upper Palaeolithic - 50,000 YA - Homo sapiens - Flint, bone, ivory, antler - Punch blade method making long thin flake

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10
Q

Use of fire?

A
  • light = Remain active at night
  • cook = new foods like meats became digestible and palatable - indigestible plants became edible
  • better weapons and tools
  • protection
    warmth
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11
Q

What did fire allow us to do?

A
  • allowed Homo Erectus to live in colder areas
  • improved survival as killed diseases in foods
  • encouraged socialisation
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12
Q

Partially bipedal

A
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13
Q

What are some features of “anatomically modern humans”

A

Large complex brain
cognitive skills allowing thrive in varied environments
and live in complex societies/civilisations
Finer face
ability to make and use tools
Language

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14
Q

What is the most common widespread primate

A

Humans

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15
Q

What characterises a great ape

A

Bipedalism
High intelligence

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16
Q

What is one of the earliest defining human traits

A

Bipedalism

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17
Q

How long has bipedalism evolved over

A

4 million years

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18
Q

What human advanced traits emerged in past 100,000years

A

Complex symbolic expression
Art
Cultural diversity

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19
Q

Are humans primates

A

Yes

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20
Q

Homosapiens have a close relationship with what other primate

A

Great apes

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21
Q

Were did human first evolve

A

Africa

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22
Q

How long ago did first human fossils in Africa originate

A

6 - 2million years ago

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23
Q

What are the great apes of Africa

A

chimpanzees
Gorillas

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24
Q

How many different species of early humans are there

A

16-20

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25
Q

How long ago did humans first migrate out of Africa into Asia

A

2million-1.8 million years ago

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26
Q

How long ago did humans migrate into Europe

A

1.5-1million years ago

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27
Q

When did agriculture and first civilisations first arise

A

12,000years ago

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28
Q

What is paleoanthropology

A

Study of human evolution-human culture society and biology

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29
Q

As a paleoanthropologist “search for “

A

roots of human physical traits and behaviour and how it has shaped humans

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30
Q

What concept of human evolution do some people struggle with

A

Not fit with religious and traditional beliefs

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31
Q

What provides the most important clues to human past

A

fossils and archaeological remains

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32
Q

Where are human remains found and how did they get there

A

Buried and preserved and then exposed by weather /rivers or by digging

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33
Q

What is archeological evidence and how is it used

A

things earlier people made and places they left , studying this allows us to understand how early humans made and used tools and lived in the environment

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34
Q

What is the process of evolution

A

Natural changes that allow species to ARISE,ADAPT to environment and become EXTINCT

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35
Q

What is the classification of humans

A

Homo sapiens

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36
Q

How does evolution occur

A

Change in genetic material (DNA)

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37
Q

What does genetic inherited characteristics influence in an organism

A

Its chance of survival and reproduction

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38
Q

Does evolution change a single individual

A

No

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39
Q

What does evolution change

A

inherited ability for growth/development that typifies a POPULATION
eg parent passes on genetic change to offspring —-this change off that offspring survives therefor gives birth and that trait becomes more common in the population

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40
Q

when did MODERN humans first populate Australia and Americas

A

Australia 60,000years ago
Americas 30,000 years ago

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41
Q

What type of remains offer clues about ancient history and what can they tell us about earlier humans beliefs with scientific evidence

A

Fossils and archeological remains - bones -tells us physical appearance , bone size shape and muscle markings left how moved, held tools ,how brain changed
tools footprints, hearts,butchery marks on animal bones

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42
Q

How does evolution occur and how does genetic change alter a species overall way of life

A

Gives them favoured abilities to survive and eventually some control over environmental change - as scavengers,hunter-gatherers,farming

43
Q

What things would early migratory modern humans had to adapt to

A

New environment/landscapes
Diseases
New predators
Different food sources
New animals/predators
New climates

44
Q

What is a hominoid vs Hominin

A

Hominoid =human like species (apes, humans,recent ancestors)
Homininin- Human and recent bipedal ancestorrs

45
Q

What is Biological evolution

A

occurs thru genes - can only be passed on genetically so SLOW RATE

46
Q

What changes are biological evolution linked to

A

Skeletal changes as a result in becoming bipedal
head= external and internal
upper limb =ability to manipulate our hands/shoulders
spine features

47
Q

What is cultural evolution

A

Non genetic passing on of information through teaching ideas ,beliefs and knowledge by learning from other members of the group- FASTER RATE - as more than 1 person can betaight at a time

48
Q

What trends of increasing behavioural complexity can we see

A

Tools
Fire
Shelter
Clothing
Food gathering
Abstract burials/art
Plant and animal domestication

49
Q

What Key difference is seen in head Apes/humans

A

Apes- large sagittal crest centre top of skull-large jaw muscles attach
Humans no sagittal crest

50
Q

What Key difference is seen in skull Apes/humans

A

Apes - sagittal crest and large jaw muscle line
-foramen magnum back of lower side of skull
Humans -no sagittal crest
-foramen magnum in center underneath

51
Q

What Key difference is seen in neck Apes/humans

A

Apes -strong neck muscles attach nuchal crest on top/back to stop head dropping forward
Humans - as head balances on top -no nuchal crest s not have strong neck muscles

52
Q

What Key difference is seen in face Apes/humans

A

Apes - large brow ridge /sloping face
Humans- no brow ridge and flatter face

53
Q

What Key difference is seen in brain Apes/humans

A

Apes - small brain - No language area
Humans - large brain with developed cerebral cortex ( gives higher level speech ,thinking, memory )
Have a language area

54
Q

What Key difference is seen in jaw Apes/humans

A

Apes - parallel sides “U shaped”
Humans- more round _ “bow shaped “What Key difference is seen in head Apes/humans

55
Q

What Key difference is seen in teeth Apes/humans

A

Apes- large canines ( esp males )
Humans -thicker enamel/small canines

56
Q

What Key difference is seen in spines/pelvis of Apes/humans

A

Apes - C shaped and long narrow pelvis
Humans -S shaped short stiff bowl like pelvis

57
Q

What Key difference is seen in knees Apes/humans

A

Apes- knees bend out under hips -femur angled into knees so if lift leg off ground loose balance so walk with a sway

Humans - knees angled in ( valgus ) so knees in centre gravity . Knee joint larger .

58
Q

Is an ape or humans gait more energy efficient

A

Humans - not waste energy as do not swing legs side to side as balanced when walk unlike ape - due to knee angles

59
Q

What Key difference is seen in toes of Apes/humans

A

Apes - large opposable big toe ( so foot can grab things). FOOT flat
Humans - forward facing toe - foot arched -shock absorber when walk

60
Q

What Key difference is seen in hands of Apes/humans

A

Ape - fingers more curved - less mobile - power grip
Humans- only precision grip

61
Q

What Key difference is seen in hair of Apes/humans

A

Ape - longer and coarse - less sweat glands
Humans same number hair but finer and more sweat glands

62
Q

What is bipedalism

A

Ability to walk on 2 legs

63
Q

When did bipedalism first be seen

A

4 million years ago

64
Q

What are advantages bipedalism

A

Free hands to carry objects eg food tools - Maning could carry back to house site for sharing
Heat regulation = rises body higher from the ground where wind and temp cooling - greater wind less heat loss
Less solar exposure day being upright - as brain sensitive we have kept hair to reduce heating effect of the sun
See predators as more upright ( primates need use smell)
Less energy used to move long distances ( more efficient )
Carrying young -human females no body hair for young grasp and no prehensile feet to hang onto mum in babies - so must carry and baby must be dependent on being carried

65
Q

What is thought to be the most important step in evolution

A

Change to being completely bipedal - as fired hands allowing us to take advantage of our larger brains

66
Q

What is positive feedback

A

when 1 change reinforces another change effect ie mum needs hold /carry baby - baby thereforendependent on being carried as no grasp ( once started +ve feedback produces rapid change )

67
Q

Disadvantages of being bipedal

A

Giving birth means larger head babies helpless -require lots parental care ( takes about 1 year before human baby walks)and painful to give birth
Prone to back ache as spine S shaped

68
Q

What is the naked ape

A

Humans only naked ape

69
Q

Key ideas of naked ape -

A

Humans only ones =
Hair on head to reduce heat loss and reflect heat off head - helps keep brain at correct temperature
Reduced body hair means easier control parasites -important for living in home bases
Inc heat loss to keep cool - less hair ( shorter and inc sweat glands)

70
Q

Who was Lucy

A

First bipedal ancestor

71
Q

What’s Lucy “type “ name

A

Australopithecus afarensis

72
Q

Who are key players in evolution humans

A

=Lucy - Australopithecus afaensis ( 3 million years )
=Handy man - Homo habilis (1.5 million years )
=Upright man - Homo erectus ( 1 million years )
=archaic Homo sapiens - Homo heidelbergensis ( 300,000 ys )
= Homo neanderthalensis ( 230,000-28,000 years )
=Homo sapiens (160,000 to now )

73
Q

Did Lucy use tools

A

No

74
Q

Did Lucy speak

A

No

75
Q

Did Lucy live alone

A

No

76
Q

where did Lucy live

A

Open lands/wooded area of Africa

77
Q

5 characteristics Lucy

A

Bipedal
Not use tools
Not articulated speech
Lived in groups
scavengers-mainly vegetables

78
Q

5 characteristics Homo habilis

A

Speech - no voice box so grunts
Hunter = cooperative hunting
Simple stone tools- Oldawan
Made simple shelter
lived in groups
Ate more meat

79
Q

What are Oldawan

A

Simple stone tools -round stone with 1 end chipped - used by “handy Andy” - Homo habilis

80
Q

5 characteristics upright man

A

Used fire
First to leave Africa
Large Brain - not complete sounds -could teach
Used Acheulian tools
As ate meat -inc brain development - led to curiosity and movement to new areas - as population inc so moved new areas to survive
Built shelters - huts with wooden poles

81
Q

Which Homonin used fire first

A

Homo erectus

82
Q

Which Hominin first left Africa

A

Homo erectus

83
Q

What are Acheulian tools

A

tear dropped stones ,double edged hand axes used by Homo Erectus, homo heidelbergensis

84
Q

How did using fire change the Homo erectus jaw

A

As cooked food -softens food for easier digestion – jaw and teeth and zygomatic arch got smaller

85
Q

What is the other name for archaic Homo sapiens

A

Homo heidelbergenesis

86
Q

Which hominin were cannabels

A

Homo heidelbergensis

87
Q

Which hominin buried their dead first

A

Homo neanderthalensis

88
Q

What 5 traits of Homo neanderthalensis

A

Thick boned ,short limbs
Intelligent - adapt weather extremes
Lived in caves and built low stone wall entrances
Made large hearths with flat stones like hot plates
Dressed in animal hides as clothes
Buried their dead -believed in afterlife
Looked after old and sick ( hierarchy )

89
Q

Which hominin lived in caves

A

Homo neanderthalensis

90
Q

Which hominin dressed in animal hides for clothes

A

Homo neanderthalensis

91
Q

Which hominin buried their dead

A

Homo neanderthalensis

92
Q

What did Homo neanderthalensis decorate their dead in

A

Red ochre ( red clay)

93
Q

What were Homo sapiens also known as

A

Cro - magnon man

94
Q

Who had a smaller brain - Neanderthal or Homo sapiens

A

Homo sapiens

95
Q

who use upper Palaeolithic tools

A

Homo sapiens

96
Q

Name 5 traits Homo sapiens

A

Used upper Palaeolithic tools
Engraved /painted cave walls
HAd imagination
Made fish hooks/sharp points/blades
Skilled hunters

97
Q

Name 6 advantages of fire

A

Cooking food made softer and easier digest/eat
Kills disease in food
Detoxed food plant toxins
Kept predators away
Light - extended day length to hunt/plan - hunts more successful therefore need do less so more “spare time”
Hardened wooden spear points - better tools

98
Q

who first used Oldowan tools

A

Homo habilus

99
Q

Who first used Acheulian tools

A

Homo erectus/Arcahic Homo sapiens

100
Q

Who used Mousterian tools

A

Neanderthals

101
Q

Who used Upper paleolitihic tools

A

Neanderthals /Homo sapiens

102
Q

What were advantages farming

A

easier obtain food
Dependable food source
Less death from starvation
Less people to work to provide food for many
Specialised others into other skills - so other jobs done that benefitted settlement group
Allowed trading
More times other skills ie art
More time for other technical advances - led to Industrial Revolution

103
Q

Disadvantages farming

A

Diet restricted to what could grow
Dependent weather for crops
Time consuming
Caused fighting over ownership animals/land
Viruses diseases increased as large populations living closer

104
Q
A