Human Evolution Flashcards

1
Q

Humans vs. Chimpanzees

A
  • protein sequences are 98.5% similar
  • 6% of human genes are not found in chimps
  • replicate copies of some genes in humans not found in chimps
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2
Q

What are “hominins”?

A

all species on the human side of the family tree after the split from the branch that became modern chimps

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3
Q

When did hominins diverge from apes?

A

by 6.0 ma

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4
Q

Earliest Hominin?

A

Sahelanthropus

  • bipedal and small brained
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5
Q

What is the foramen magnum?

A

the hole at the base of the skull through which the spinal chord passes

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6
Q

What does the position of the foramen magnum at the base of the skull to us?

A
  • directly beneath says erect, vertical posture and bipedalism
  • from the rear says horizontal posture
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7
Q

Age of Australopithicines

A

~4.0 to 1.8 Ma

  • bipedal with small brains
  • restricted to southern and eastern Australia
  • Lucy and Taung Child
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8
Q

Dental Arcades

A
  • rectangular with large canines: ape-like
  • semi-parabolic with smaller canines: australopithecines
  • parabolic with greatly reduced canines: homo sapiens
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9
Q

Laetoli Ash

A
  • Tanzania

- ~3.6 Ma fossil footprints of bipedal australopithecines

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10
Q

Genus Homo

A

split from australopithecines approx. 2.5 Ma

  • developed crude stone tools
  • medium-sized cranial capacity and bipedal
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11
Q

Homo Erectus

A

~ 1.8 ma

  • large brained (at high metabolic cause, increase caloric diet), bipedal
  • more carnivorous diet (encouraged cooperation and hunting in groups)
  • expanded migration to Africa, Middle East, and South Africa
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12
Q

Homo Neanderthalensis

A

230 - 30 Kyr

  • expanded to Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia
  • cold adapted with heavy build and muscular bodies
  • some evidence of burial practice
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13
Q

Anatomically Modern Humans

A

200 thousand years ago

  • acceleration of cultural evolution evident through cave paintings (40 Kyr)
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14
Q

Homo Floresiensis

A

found on Flores Island, Indonesia

  • 44,000 - 13,600 years ago
  • “hobbits” (3 ft tall)
  • cranial capacity is less than chimps but also due to relative size of the bodies
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15
Q

Trends in Human Evolution

A
  1. ) Brain size (increase)
  2. ) body size (increase)
  3. ) Bipedalism
  4. ) dental arcade becomes more parabolic with reduced canines
  5. ) less body hair
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16
Q

Advantages to being Bipedal

A
  • carrying behavior
  • reduction of overall heat stress (more surface area therefore easier to cool down)
  • better vision
  • energy efficient for travelling
  • possible defense against predators (hands to carry weapons and fight them off)