Human Evolution Flashcards
Melanin
a pigment produced by a specific type of skin cell that gives skin its color
Biologically human races do not exist
True
Human genome
sequence of 3billion nucleotide base pair
Melanocytes
a type of cell located in the epidermis the outermost layer skin.
Folate
A B vitamin also known as folic acid: essential nutrient , necessary for basic cellular processes (DNA replication), low folate = birth defects,gets destroyed by UV lights
Vitamin D
fat-soluble vitamin required to maintain a healthy immune system and to build healthy bone and teeth: human body produces it when skin is exposed to UV light, might play a role in evolution of skin color, low vitamin D = premature birth, neurological disease
Mitochondrial DNA
the DNA within mitochondrion, its inherited solely from mother
Nuclear DNA
inherited from both
Primates
an order of mammals that includes lemurs, monkeys, apes and humans
Apes
a group of tailless primates within the family Hominidae which includes : gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and humans
Hominidae (Characteristics)
- chimpanzees are most closely related to humans
- the last common ancestor was approximately 7 million years ago
Homo Sapiens (Characteristics)
-ability to walk upright
- big brain
Ardipithecus ramidus
-4.4 million years ago
-small brain
-bones shot it could walk upright
-moved on all 4 in trees
Australopithecus
-2.6 million years ago
-could walk upright –Bipedalism
- lived on the ground
- started the use of simple tools
Homo erectus
-800k years ago
-first to control fire for good
