THE ORIGIN OF MODERN MAN

Question 1

Multiregional hypothesis

what are the claims behind this

Answer 1

Homo sapiens evolved from the local population of H. erectus in parallel of a number of places including Africa, Europe, Asia and possibly Australia

 Genetic similarity of all modern people is the product of occasional interbreeding between neighbouring populations
 Much regional genetic diversity has arisen due to regional selective pressures about 1 million years ago
 Give subspecies names to regional hominids – Homo sapien
neanderthalensis
 Continuous gene flow prevents new species
 Last common ancestor in Africa about 1.5 million years ago

Question 2

“Out of Africa” hypothesis (replacement hypothesis)

Answer 2

all modern Homo sapiens evolved from Homo erectus in Africa

 replaced all regional populations of Homo from first hominid migration of H. erectus about 1.5 million years ago
 give separate species names to regional hominids – Homo
neanderthalensis
 Homo sapiens replaced all other regional descendents of Homo erectus
 Regional genetic differences evolved 80 000 to 100 000 years ago

Question 3

Third Hypothesis

Answer 3

 Homo sapiens dispersing from Africa 100 000 years ago interbred with
regional descendants of earlier H. erectus
 Genomes of indigenous people around globe should reflect a complex
mix of ancestries

Question 4

Genetic Data: Supports Replacement Hypothesis

Answer 4

1. comparing mitochondrial DNA: multiregional hypothesis states that modern
   European mtDNA should be more similar to Neanderthal mtDNA – was NOT.
2. comparing Y chromosomes: no crossing over so only changes are through
   mutations which can be used to date differences and trace ancestry and
   relationships
3. fossils:
    fossils in Europe shows total replacement of Neanderthals about 40 000
   ya by Cro-Magnon (transition fossils show no interbreeding)
    fossils outside Europe in Asia might be intermediate between H. erectus
   and modern Asians

Question 5

Third Hypothesis

Answer 5

 Homo sapiens dispersing from Africa 100 000 years ago interbred with regional descendants of earlier H. erectus
 Genomes of indigenous people around globe should reflect a complex mix of ancestries

Question 6

Genetic data supporting replacement hypothesis

what was false about the multiregional hypothesis

what did we discovering comparing Y chromosomes?

what do fossils show and what do they refute/ prove wrong

Answer 6

the multiregional hypothesis states that modern European mtDNA(mitochondrial DNA) should be more similar to Neanderthal mtDNA (*false)

2. comparing Y chromosomes: no crossing over so only changes are through mutations which can be used to trace ancestry and relationships
3. fossils:
    fossils in Europe shows total replacement of Neanderthals about 40 000 years ago by Cro-Magnon

fossils show no interbreeding
 fossils outside Europe