Human
Evolution
Animalia vertebrates
mammals primates
Primates anthropoids
hominidae/hominid(great apes)
Hominidae/hominid
Hominin
Structural characteristics of Homo sapiens that
are similar to other primates/African Apes
Upright posture
Long upper arms
Freely rotating arms/ Elbow
joints allowing rotation of
forearm
Flat nails instead of
claws/bare finger tips
Opposable thumbs
Large brain compared to
body size
Eyes in front/binocular
vision/stereoscopic vision
Eyes with cones/colour
vision
Structural characteristics of Homo sapiens that
are similar to other primates/African Apes
Sexual dimorphism/distinct differences
between male and female
Olfactory brain centres reduced/reduced
sense of smell
Parts of the brain that process information
from the hands and eyes are enlarged
Two mammary glands only
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Allows for bipedalism
More forward positioned foramen magnum
S-shaped vertebral column
Wider & shorter pelvis
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Characteristics that make us different
Skull
Homo sapiens Other primates
Larger cranium /brain Smaller cranium /brain
Flat face Sloping face
Foramen magnum in the centre at Foramen magnum towards the back of
base / bottom of skull the base of the skull
Lower jaw with well developed chin Lower jaw with poorly developed chin
Less protruding jaws More protruding jaws/prognathous
Smaller canines Larger canines
Smaller spaces between the teeth Larger spaces between the teeth
Brow ridges are not as pronounced Brow ridges pronounced
Jaws with teeth on a gentle/round Jaws with teeth in a rectangular/U
curve / C shape shape
Others
Homo sapiens Other primates
More curved spine (S-shaped) Less curved spine (C-shaped)
Short & wide pelvic girdle Long & narrow pelvic girdle
Bipedal Quadrupedal
Task 6.5
Pg 217
Evidence to support the idea of
common ancestors for living
hominids including humans
Fossils of different ages showing
gradual changes
GENETIC EVIDENCE
CULTURAL EVIDENCE
Great Apes
Grass/sticks
Sharpening sticks
Throwing stones
Using leaves – sponge / toilet
paper
Using stones to crack nuts
Hominins
Ardipithecus (4.5mya)
No evidence of tools
Australopithecus (4mya – 1.5mya)
Simple tools
Homo
Habilis (handy man)
Primitive stone tools
Erectus
Complex tools
Fire
Sapiens
Art/pottery
•The “Out of Africa’ hypothesis (pg 229)
According to most scientists, humans originated from Africa
and moved to other countries.
This hypothesis is based on fossil evidence and genetic
evidence from fossils of Africa (Australopithecines &
[Link])
•Examples of fossils
Mrs Ples, Taung Child, Little Foot (Australopithecus
africanus) Nutcracker man(Paranthropus boisei):-
Handy man(Homo habilis
Toumai (Sahelanthropus tachadensis):-
Karabo : (Australopithecus sediba)
Fossil record – Homo erectus
oldest fossils of Homo erectus were found in Africa, while
younger fossils found in other parts of the world.
Indicating that Homo erectus migrated out of Africa
Other fossils
Ardipithecus fossils were found in Africa only
Australopithecus fossils were found in Africa only
Homo habilis fossils were found in Africa only
Oldest fossils of Homo sapiens were found in Africa
Youngest fossils of Homo sapiens were found in other
parts of the world
When DNA is analysed for the purpose of tracing
ancestry, a search is made for mutations since
individuals who have the same mutation must share the
same common ancestor These mutations serves as
markers of decent DNA from Y chromosome AND
Mutant genes from Mitochondrial DNA
Out of Africa hypothesis
Video
East African Rift
Valley Fossils
Ardipithecus ramidus (earth ape)
Ardi
Tim White (1992)
Ethiopia
5,8 – 4.4 mya
17 fossils
Woodlands
1,2m tall - 50 kg
Small canines
Small brain
FM – forward position
Prognathous jaw
Brow ridge large
Long pelvis (chimp) / bowl-shaped (humans)
Australopithecus
Australopithecus
Australopithecus afarensis
Lucy
Don Johanson (1974)
Ethiopia
4.4 – 2.7 mya
Most complete fossil
Short (1.1m tall)
Arms longer than legs
Small cranium
Prognathous jaw
Bipedalism (spine & foramen magnum)
Big toes in line with rest of foot
Reduced canines & smaller premolars
Australopithecus boisei
Nutcracker man / Southern ape
Mary Leakey (1959)
Tanzania (East Africa)
2 – 1.1 mya
Relate to apes
Large jaw & molars
Size of a chimp
Arms longer than legs
Small cranium
Prognathous jaw
Relate Humans
Teeth similar
Shape of spine
Bipedalism, Toes
Homo habilis
Handyman
Louis & Mary Leakey (1960)
Tanzania (East Africa)
2.4 – 1.4 mya
Basic tools
Relate to Australopithecines
Short
Arms longer than legs
Small cranium
Prognathous jaw
Brow ridge smaller
Relate to Humans
Bipedalism, toes
Small teeth
Homo erectus
Turkana boy
Richard Leakey (1984)
Lake Turkana, Kenya
2 mya – 200000 ya
Body similar to modern humans
Could control fire
First hominids to leave Africa
Relate to Australopithecines
Brow ridge
Strong robust jaw
Relate to Humans
Bipedalism. Longer legs, shorter arms
Cranium bigger relative to face size
Small teeth
Homo sapiens
Omo fossil
Richard Leakey (1967)
Ethiopia
200 000 ya
Artwork, stone age tools, metal
Large brain
Small brow ridge
Speech (small lower jaw - projecting chin)
Lighter skeleton
South African
Fossils
Australopithecus (unclassified)
Little foot
Ronald Clarke & Philip Tobias (1994)
Sterkfontein Caves
4.1 – 3.3 mya
Oldest Southern African hominid fossil
Related to apes
Short
Grasping toe
Arms longer than legs
Small cranium
Related to humans
Early bipedalism
Australopithecus africanus
Taung Child
Raymond Dart (1924)
Taung quarry
3.3 – 2.1 mya
First hominid fossil found in Africa
First species to have given rise to first humans
Related to apes
Short
Arms longer than legs
Divergent big toe
Small cranium
Prognathous jaw
Related to humans
Early bipedalism
Reduced canines, smaller premolars
Mrs Ples
Robert Broom (1947)
Sterkfontein Caves
3.3 – 2.1 mya
Almost complete skull
Australopithecus robustus
Robert Broom (1938)Kroomdraai Caves
Andre Kerser (1994)Sterkfontein Caves
1.8 – 1.2 mya
Very large molars
Related to apes
Arms longer than legs
Gorilla like skull (sagittal crest)
Prognathous jaw
Small cranium
Related to humans
Canines and incisors
Spine, pelvis, bipedalism
Big toe in line with others
Australopithecus sediba
Karabo
Matthew Berger (2008)
Maropeng
1.95 – 1.78 mya
Transitional species Australopithecines & Homos
Related to apes
More primitive foot
Arms relatively long
Related to humans
Advanced pelvis (locomotion)
Long legs
Evolved dentition
Short powerful hands (using & making tools)
Homo heidelbergensis
Free state & Western Cape
Larger brain than H. erectus
Thicker skull & larger eyebrow ridge than H.
sapiens
200 000 – 700 000 ya
May have given rise to H. sapiens & H.
neanderthalensis
Controlled fires, hunted large game, wooden
spears, shelter, buried their dead
Trends in Human Development
Shift of foramen magnum to a more forward position
A more rounded skull and Increased cranium size
A flatter face due to:
Less sloping forehead
Less protruding jaws
(decreased prognathous)
A more developed chin
A more rounded jaw
Increased size of skeleton
Change in dentition
More rounded head
Identify
on skull
Examples of evolution by natural
selection still occurring in present
times:
Use of DDT and consequent resistance to
DDT in insects can be explained in terms
of natural selection
Development of resistant strains of
tuberculosis-causing bacteria (MDR and
XDR) to anti-biotics
Before pesticide application
First
generation
Resistant
mosquito
Susceptible
Natural selection mosquito
Second
generation
Natural selection
The evolution of drug resistance in bacteria
Bacterium
reproducing
Mutation
(resistant to
penicillin)
Mutant
survive
penicillin
treatment
Killed by penicillin
Population now
resistant to
penicillin