Human

Evolution

Grade 12
HUMAN CLASSIFICATION SCIENTIFIC NAME OF HUMANS
Homo sapiens
Humans belong to the order Rules for Writing Scientific Names
Primates . Primates include • A scientific name has two words .
monkeys, apes, gorillas, • The first word is the genus name.
chimpanzees, and humans . • The second word is the species
name.
• The genus name begins with a capital
They are characterized by:
letter (e.g., Homo ).
• Adaptations for arboreal life • The species name is written in
(life spent in trees) lowercase letters (e.g., sapiens ).
• Advanced intelligence • When handwritten, the genus and
(cognition) species names are underlined
• Social behaviour separately . When typed, they are
usually written in italics instead.
Characteristics that humans share with African apes

-stereoscopic vision -3D vision

-for power grip and precision grip

Anatomical differences between African apes
and humans
• Bipedalism (foramen magnum, spine and pelvic girdle)

• Brain size

• Teeth (dentition)

• Prognathism

• Palate shape

• Cranial ridges

• Brow ridges
 BIPEDALISM
ability to walk on two legs
• Humans are bipedal because they walk on
two legs.
• Apes are quadrupeds because they move
using four limbs (two arms and two legs).
Bipedal – Walking on two legs.
Quadruped – Walking on four limbs.

Foramen Magnum
The foramen magnum is the large opening at
the base of the skull through which the spinal
cord passes to connect with the brain.
Why Are Humans Bipedal? Why Are Apes Quadrupeds?
Humans are able to walk upright In apes, the foramen magnum is
because the foramen magnum is located towards the back of the skull.
located near the centre (in a more
forward position) of the base of the This means:
skull.
• The spinal cord enters the skull at
This position allows: an angle.
• The spinal cord to enter the skull • The body is not balanced for an
vertically. upright posture.
• Apes move mainly on four limbs .
• The head to balance on top of the
backbone.
• An upright posture.
• Walking on two legs.
Changes in structure observed in humans

Modern Humans ( Homo

Chimpanzees Early Homo species
sapiens )

Foramen magnum at the back Foramen magnum moved Foramen magnum is centrally
of the skull closer to the centre located at the base of the skull
Head projects in front of the Improved balance for upright Head is balanced directly
spine walking above the spine
Walk on four limbs
Walk more upright Walk on two legs (bipedal)
(quadrupedal)
Advantages of Bipedalism

The hands are free to carry food, tools, and babies.

A better view of the surroundings helps in finding food and spotting

predators.
Movement becomes easier over long distances.

The body cools faster because less of the body is exposed to direct
sunlight.
Male reproductive organs are more visible , which may help during
courtship.
 BIPEDALISM: spine
The vertebral column (spine) is
different in humans and
chimpanzees because they
move in different ways.

Humans have an S -shaped

spine
• Absorbs shock during walking
and running
• Allows greater flexibility and
balance

Chimpanzees have a C -shaped

spine
 BIPEDALISM: pelvic girdle

Humans have a short and wide pelvis , to support the upper body
Chimpanzees have a long and narrow pelvis
QUESTION: state the features that supports
bipedalism

• Foramen magnum  is located in

a more forward position 
• Spine  is S - shaped 
• Pelvis  is shorter and wider 
 BRAIN SIZE

• Brain size is measured by

measuring the volume of the
cranium
• Humans have a more rounded
skull with an enlarged cranium ,
containing a large and highly
developed brain.
• Apes have a small and
elongated cranium, containing a
small less developed brain.
 QUESTION: explain how an increase in cranial volume
is related to intelligence

• Since the cranium houses the

brain 
• A large cranium size indicates a
lager brain / more brain cells 
• Which suggests greater
intelligence 
Dentition (teeth)
Palate shape:
• Humans – wider and more curved, aiding in the
development of speech
• Chimpanzees – long and rectangular

Canines:
• Humans – small. Eating softer, cooked foods,
there are also no gaps/spaces/diastema between
teeth
• Chimpanzees – large and pointed. Eating tough
fibrous food and nuts, there are spaces between
teeth

Jaws:
• Humans –small, C -shaped
• Chimpanzees - large, U-shaped jaw
 PROGNATHISM
Protruding (sticking out) jaws (mandible -lower jaw and maxillary - upper jaw)
• Apes have more protruding jaws/ prognathous
• Humans have less protruding jaws/ non -prognathous
 CRANIAL RIDGES
A cranial ridge serves as
attachment for the muscles
involved with chewing.
• Apes have a large cranial ridge,
for chewing of rough fibrous
food
• Humans have no cranial ridge
because they eat softer food
Cranial ridge on a gorilla skull
 BROW RIDGES
• Apes have a large brow ridges (well developed), for chewing of rough fibrous
food
• Humans have no brow ridge (less developed) because they eat softer food

Chimpanzee Human
Lines of evidence that support the idea of
common ancestors for living hominids including
humans:

Genetic evidence : Mitochondrial DNA

Cultural evidence : Tool -making

Fossil evidence : Evidence from fossils of different

ages show that the anatomical characteristics of
organisms changed gradually over time.
 Fossil evidence
Genera Species

Ardipithecus Ardipithecus ramidas

Ardipithecus kadibba

Australopithecus afarensis
Australopithecus

Australopithecus africanus

Australopithecus sediba
Homo Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Homo sapiens
Ardipithecus is the oldest genus of the hominid ancestor

Ardipithecus ramidas
Ardipithecus kadibba
 Australopithecus is the genus younger than Ardipithecus

Australopithecus sediba
Australopithecus afarensis Karabo
Australopithecus africanus
Lucy
Little foot
Mrs ples
Taung child
H omo is the youngest genus of the evolution lineage

Homo habilis (handy man)

The first to use tools Homo erectus (tall man)
The first to discover fire Homo sapien (wise man)
 Human Evolution: Fossil Evidence summary

Common name Scientific name Scientist Fossil site

Lucy Australopithecus afarensis Donald Jonhson Ethiopia
Little foot Australopithecus africanus Ron Clarke Sterkfontein

Mrs Ples Australopithecus africanus Robert Broom Sterkfontein

Taung child Australopithecus africanus Raymond Dart Taung village, Northwest

Karabo Australopithecus sediba Lee Berger Malapa fossil site

Cultural evidence
The study of tools and
artifacts .
The evolution of tools
shows an increase brain
capacity which indicates
an increase in intelligence.

The oldest artefacts (tools,

cutlery, art were found in
Africa.
 The Out -of -Africa hypothesis
Modern humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other continents

Evidence for the ‘Out -of -Africa’ hypothesis:

1. Genetic evidence : mitochondrial DNA

- Is inherited only from the maternal liner
- Analysis of mutations on this mitochondrial DNA
- shows that the oldest female ancestor were located in Africa
- and that all humans descended from her /mitochondrial Eve
- The Y chromosome shows the paternal liner
2. Fossil evidence

- Fossils of Ardipithecus were found ONLY in Africa/ /Rift Valley/Ethiopia/South

Africa
- Fossils of Australopithecus were found ONLY in Africa/ /Rift
Valley/Ethiopia/South Africa
- The fossils of Homo habilis were ONLY found in Africa
- The OLDEST fossils of Homo erectus were found in Africa
- The OLDEST fossils of Homo sapiens were found in Africa