Human Evolution

Question 1

What are the ways of assessing evolutionary relationships?

Answer 1

DNA hybridisation & comparative serology

Question 2

What is neoteny?

Answer 2

When an adult retains the juvenile feature of an ancestor

Question 3

What is comparative serology?

Answer 3

The extent to which the antibodies of one animal recognise and react with the proteins of another

Question 4

What is DNA hybridisation?

Answer 4

The extent that DNA matches up is a measure of relatedness

Question 5

Humans, apes and chimps are in the same family called…

Answer 5

Hominidae

Question 6

Anatomy suggested that there are 3 different kinds of chimps. What are they?

Answer 6

the ordinary, dangerous Chimp (Pan troglodytes)
the non-dangerous Bonobo (Pan paniscus)
the Human (Homo sapiens).

Question 7

Name a feature SHARED by gorillas, chimps and humans.

Answer 7

One of the following:

Densely-haired scalp 
Earlobe s
Frontal sinuses
Shortened premolar row- back 2 teeth behind canines are very short and compressed 
Delayed dental eruption – wisdom teeth

Question 8

Name a feature that DISTINGUISHES chimps and humans.

Answer 8

One of the following:

Flat faces vs muzzle
Jutty chins vs chinless
Big brains vs small brains
Reduced body hair (fine, small, pale) vs more hairy
Downward vaginas vs posterior vaginas
Well-developed labia majora (conspicuous outer lips of vagina) vs don’t
Longer life span vs short life span
Infantile newborns vs fully developed newborns

Question 9

A neotenised salamander is…

Answer 9

An axolotyl