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Bio Speciation > Human Evolution > Flashcards

Human Evolution Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Biological evolution in humans include…

A

Structural adaptations (bipedalism, manipulative hands, brain development), physicological (internal temp regualtions), instinctive behaviours (reflexes). this evolution is determined by natrual selection and slow genetic change.

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2
Q

Hominins are…

A

a subgroup of hominids including all living and fossil species belonging to the human lineage. A distinguishing features of hominins is bipedalism

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3
Q

Cultural evolution results from… Aspects are… Cultural evolution tends to be… However, it depends on…

A

Cultrual evolution results from the transission of learned knowledge from one generation to another. Knowledge results from higher level thinking and is stored as memory or written form - including ideas, beliefs and customs. Aspects of this are tool technology, controlled use of fire, langauge, religion, art, spirituality, politics, farming, settlements, food gathering, music, science, and maths. Cultrual evolution tends to be rapid and accelerates. However, it depends on a complex brain and an ability to learn adn communicate whcih are results of biological evolution.

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4
Q

Bipedal adaptations include:

A
  1. Centralisation of foramen magnum
  2. reduction of nuchal crest
  3. Flattening of the ribcage
  4. during of the spine in to an S
  5. bowling of the pelvis
  6. elongation of the lower limbs
  7. increase in valus angle (femur-knee joint)
  8. enlargement of lateral femoral condyle
  9. big toe is forward facing and develompent of longitudinal arch
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5
Q

Advantages of bipedalism are…

A

height advantage (spot predators), efficient long distance (hunting), freeing of hands, thermoregulation (reduction in body hair and exposure to sun)

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6
Q

Disadvantages of bipedalism are…

A

increased curvature of the back (chronic lower back problems), more stress on hips and knees, stress on feet (flat feet), varicose veins, birth difficulties, offspring are largely helpless

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7
Q

the manipulative hand is likely the…

A

greatest advantage from habitual bipedalism as it allowed for the precision grip.

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8
Q

Homo erectus dates back to about… with developments of …

A

1.8 mya
first hominins to leave africa
Broca’s and Wernicke’s area development
Acheulean stone tools
Controlled fire

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9
Q

changes in the skulll adn brain are related to both…

A

biological and cultural evolution enhanced by bipedalism, diet, fire and cooking, icnreased size and complexity of the brain

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10
Q

How changes in diet changed the skull…

A

smaller jaws, reduced saggital crest and zygomatic arch, smaller molars and more unifrom teeth. Less prognathism, flatter faces, and parabolic jaws. No need for large jaws and large chewing muscles - selected against as a waste of energy and matericla in development.

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11
Q

Changes associated with the brain include…

A
  1. increase in size/volume
  2. increase in complexity and specialisation
  3. Presence of Broca’s (sound organisation) and Wernick’s area (interpretation of speech)
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12
Q

improvements in brain size and complexity and functioning are related…

A

improvements in diet both in quantity and quality

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13
Q

The quantity and quality of deit was result of linked developments:

A
  1. freeing of hands in bipedalism
  2. stone tool development
  3. effective hunting and processing of food,
  4. cooking
  5. more meat in diet from greater hunting success
  6. more protein and fat and omega-3 oils

positive feedback loop

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14
Q

Earliest hominins identified as…, … , and …

A

“Sahelanthropus tchadensis” - lived 7 mya in Chad)
Orrorin tugenensis (ARDI) - lived 6 mya
“ardipithicus ramidus” - lived 4.4 mya displaying mixture of ape and human features

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15
Q

How are australopithecines characterised?

A

bipedal, small brains, small stature, variation in sexual dimorphism, dentition similar to later hominins
* A. anamensis - 4mya “lucy” - conclusive evidence of bipedalism
* A. africanus - 3 mya - known as gracile as they have a slender form

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16
Q

trends in australopithecus genus include:

A
  1. increase in cranial capacity, height, and weight
  2. increase centrality of formmen magnum and lower limbs for bipedalism
  3. loss of diastema, increasing parabolic jaw, smaller canines, reduced prognathism
  4. higher forhead and smaller brow ridges
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17
Q

Trends within Biological evolution of Homo genus include:

A
  1. Increase in cranical capacity, height, and weight (more rounded cranium)
  2. reduction in sexual dimorphism
  3. reduction in jaw and tooth size, particularly molars
  4. flatter faces and steeper foreheads, further reduction in brow ridges, appearance of prominent chin
  5. development of Broca’s and Wernickes areas
  6. limb bones increasingly gracile, longer legs
  7. Increasing hand dexterity and precision grip due to lengthening thumb
18
Q

Homo habilis lived about…

A

2.3 - 1.4 mya
Made Oldowan tools

19
Q

Archaic Homo sapiens and H. heidelbergensis information…

A

emerged about 200,000 ya (archaic)
emerged from 600,000 - 400,000 ya (heidelbergensis)
Heidelbergensis evolved into neanderthalensis and sapiens

20
Q

Homo neanderthalensis information…

A

lived from 200,000 - 30,000 ya in Europe.
Mousterian tools
shorter, stockier, barrel chests, prominent brow ridge and large noses
FOXP2 gene for speech
Denisovans were a branch off

21
Q

H. floresiensis information:

A

lived from 95,000 - 13,000 ya
lived on isolated Indonesian island
Homo structure, but related to H. Habilis

22
Q

Homo sapiens information:

A

Lived 200,000 - present
Tall, lanky, gracile, high SA:Vol ratio, flat face, prominent chin, high forehead, insignificant brow ridges, small and uniform teeth, omnivorous.
Dispersal from 70,000-60,000 ya

23
Q

Dispersal Patterns Homo Erectus lore:

A

the first hominins to disperse out of Africa rapidly. 200,000 to Asia, 300,000 to Europe. Migration was linked to climate change in AFrica resultign in cooler, drier climate with open savannah and reduction of suitable food sources.

24
Q

Out of Africa key aspects:

A
  1. Archaich H sapiens evolved into anatomically modern H sapiens in africa (200,000 - 150,000 ya)
  2. members of one branch of H. sapiens left afric between 125,000 - 60,000 ya; with the first successful migration 60,000 ya
  3. migrants over time replaces earlier human populations in Europe and Asia
  4. Regional differences of Homo sapiens developed AFTER H. Sapiens emerged from Africa
25
Q

Multiregional theory key aspects

A
  1. homo erectus left Africa nad dispersed with regional populations evolving into modern humans
  2. Geographically isolated populations adapted to their environment
  3. Gene flow existed between adjacent populations and mixed alleles to prevent speciation
26
Q

Oldowan tools all information:

A

*oldest stone tools (‘pebble tools’)
*Associated with H. Habilis 2.6 - 1.7 mya
*Made with river stones by striking flakes off one side of the pebble to produce a cutting edge
*choppers, hammers, to crack bones, soften meat, cut plants, and work wood

27
Q

Acheulean tools all information:

A

*Homo erectus associated with Acheulean from 1.5 mya - 150,000 ya
*associated with brain expansion and precision grip
*hand axe, bifacial tools with tea-drop, oval, or disc-shaped.

28
Q

Mousterian tool information:

A
  • Homo neanderthalensis from 200,000 - 30,000 ya
    *sophisticated and use Levellois
    *included blades, points, chisels, scrapers, and spear tips
29
Q

Upper palaeolithic tools information:

A
  • 40,000 - present associated with Homo sapiens
    *used other tools such as bones, antlers, and ivory
    *tools were made for the express purpose of making other tools
30
Q

Clothing and Shelter of Hominin species

A

Early hominins made use of caves for shelter, soon moving to rocks, hides, and mud for composite dwellings through brain development.
Permanent shelters developed with Homo sapiens with a settled lifestyle and domestication of animals (10,000 ya), effective langauge, communication, co-operation, and mental ability to envison the house.
Homo sapiens were able to migrate through harsher climates through using needles to create sophisticated clothes

31
Q

Being able to light and control fire was a…

A

milestone in hominin evolution as it produced many advantages for lifestyle and affected both biological and cultural evolution.

32
Q

Controlled use of Fire evidence and association

A

Evidence found in hearths and charred animal bones
Associated with H. erectus onwards

33
Q

Controlled use of fire advantages

A
  1. dispersal and live in colder climates
  2. reduction in danger
  3. drive pray into traps
  4. process tools
  5. extended period of activity
  6. allowed more socialisation, tool making, and clothes making
  7. cooking
  8. increased diet range
  9. better diet for more brain development
34
Q

the development of spoken language was…

A

another milestone in hominin evolution resulting in communication and co-operation.

35
Q

Abstract thought information

A

*results from increase size and complexity of brain including Broca and Wernickes, larynx and pharynx
*Neanderthals and sapiens showed art and aesthetics through burried dead with gifts and cave paintings

36
Q

Food gathering and settlement

A

Hominins progressed from hunter-gathering nomads to settles lifestyle BASED on domestication of animals and cultivation of crops

37
Q

Advantages of settles farming lifestyle

A
  1. dependable source of food
  2. trading and transport
  3. improved diet resulting in improved health and survival
  4. milk
  5. time spend gathering food was reduced
  6. job speicalisation allowing for cultural advances
  7. increased wool and production of clothing
38
Q

disadvantages of settlements and farming lifestyle

A
  1. increased spread of disease due to density of crops, people, and animals allowing an increase in parasites and pests
  2. increase in human waste
  3. boom and busts required careful storage and supply
  4. adverse weather events without ability to move away (floods, fire, severe cold, etc.)
39
Q

Linking of Biological and Cultural Evolution
(3 phases)

A

Phase 1: almost no control over environment (H. erectus). Little significant increase in cranial capacity and cognitive abilities
Phase 2: (Erectus up to early H. Sapiens) - cultural evolution starts to impact as humans learn to manipulate the environment to a degree. sophisticated tools, controlled use of fire, selective breeding, improved diet and brain growth and domestication ensured regular food supy.
Phase 3: Modern day - humans control selection, environment manipulation to extent of other species going extinct, large scale environmental changes (global warming), and population explosions

40
Q

Evolutionary forces that affected hominins

A

*Genetic drift
*Founder Effect (dispersal theories)
*Bottleneck effect (several points in history were human populations decreased to very small numbers towards the end of Pleistocene era)
*speciation - allopatric speciation over dispersal
*changing selection pressures - climate change, range expansion, and competition.

Bio Speciation (5 decks)

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