Week 1 Human Origins

Question 1

What does the chronological of hominid evolution provide

Answer 1

Context for understanding the development of cognitive abilities including language technology and art

Question 2

Why are there limitations in understanding of hominid evolution

Answer 2

Archeology relies on limited evidence without experiments so understanding is updated with new findings

Question 3

How did environmental pressures in the Savannah influence hominid evolution

Answer 3

Hominids faced seasonal climates which drove the need for learning, problem solving and adaptive strategies like scavenging and fire use

Question 4

What were some survival strategies of early hominids

Answer 4

Scavenging soften tissue, using fire, and establishing base camps for resource gathering and social cohesion

Question 5

Name a significant hominid from 6 million years ago associated with bipedalism

Answer 5

Orrorin tugenensis

Question 6

Which species is known for both tree dwelling and bipedal adaptation with a brain about 20% the size of modern humans

Answer 6

Ardipithecus ramidus 4.4 million years ago

Question 7

Who is Australopithecus afarensis and why is it significant

Answer 7

Known for upright walking with a brain about 35% of modern human size, lived around 3-4 million years ago

Question 8

What advancements are associated with homo habilis

Answer 8

Tool use, large brain
50% of modern sized brains
And strong hands, around 2.4-1.4 million years ago

Question 9

What are some key achievements of homo erectus

Answer 9

Fire use, base camps, and a brain 60-70% of modern human size, around 1.89 million - 110,000 years ago

Question 10

What species had brains larger than modern humans, used sophisticated tools, and may have had language

Answer 10

Homo Neanderthalensis
400,000- 40,000 years ago

Question 11

What characterizes Homo sapiens in terms of cognitive development

Answer 11

Specialized tools, transition to food production, and industrial/ technological revolutions starting around 300,000 years ago

Question 12

What was Darwin’s perspective on human language

Answer 12

Language in not an instinct but learned, with an instinctive tendency to speak, unlike other arts

Question 13

What is chomskys theory of language

Answer 13

Language learning is supported by innate mechanisms and a universal grammar across all languages

Question 14

What were the evolutionary advantages of langauge

Answer 14

Enabled warning of dangers, communication about resources and support for complex social structure

Question 15

How did bipedalism impact language development

Answer 15

Anatomical changes associated with bipedalism likely supported the development of vocal range necessary for speech

Question 16

What is the significant of early tools in cognitive evolution

Answer 16

Tools from 2.5 million years ago indicate cognitive development, more complex, standardized tools demonstrated learning and communication

Question 17

How does tool use in non human primates inform human evolution

Answer 17

It suggests that our ancestors had the capacity for basic tool use, which was culturally learned

Question 18

What does the development of art indicated about cognitive skills

Answer 18

The emergence of complex abilities, such as cave art and flutes around 40,000 years ago, points to advanced cognitive and cultural capacities

Question 19

How has cultural evolution differed from genetic evolution in recent history

Answer 19

Recent advances like writing and technology arise from cultural evolution, showcasing rapid adaptability through learning and communication