Human Evolution

Question 1

(1) The species which is thought to have inhabited the Earth for the longest period of time is

Answer 1

B Homo erectus

Question 2

(1) Estimate the number of years that Homo habilis inhabited the Earth.

Answer 2

• any value between 0.7-0.9 million (years)

Question 3

(2) Describe the methods scientists may have used to identify the skull as belonging to the species Homo erectus.

Answer 3

• structural features/shape of fossil (1)
• (age of the fossil from) location in rock layers (1)
• structure of stone tools (1)

Question 4

(3) Compare the benefits of using mitochondrial DNA rather than nuclear DNA to map human migration.

Answer 4

• habituation / learned response (1)
• stop responding to {neutral
• signal /harmless signal} (1)

Question 5

(1) The Stone Age tool made most recently is the

Answer 5

arrow head

Question 6

(2) Suggest how these tools may have helped early humans to survive

Answer 6

hunting/fighting/defence (1)
{preparing/ cooking/foraging
for} food (1)
making clothes (1)
construction of {shelters/new
tools/sharpening tools} (1)
making fire (1)

Question 7

(2) Explain why mitochondrial DNA is used rather than nuclear DNA.

Answer 7

higher abundance (1)
more stable over time/less
susceptible to decay (1)
high mutation rate (1)
inheritance down female line (1)

Question 8

(2) Describe how fossil evidence can be used to show that humans have evolved.

Answer 8

show changes in body structure
(1)
changes in stone tools (1)
a specific example eg
Ardi/Lucy/Homo erectus (1)