ASHISH’S BIOLOGY CLASSES
Topic: Human Evolution
1. What does the theory of autogenesis state?
Ans: According to the 'autogenesis theory' of the origin of life, life is said to have originated from non-living
organic matter.
2. Name the 2 most widely accepted theories to explain organic evolution.
Ans: Theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characters and the Theory of Natural Selection are two theories to
explain organic evolution
3. Define evolution.
Ans: Evolution is a slow and continuous process whereby complex forms of life have emerged from simpler
forms through millions of years.
4. Who proposed theory of inheritance of acquired characters ?
Ans: French biologist Jean Baptiste de Lamarck proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characters
5. What does the Theory of inheritance of acquired characters state?
Ans: Organisms change physically as they struggle to meet the demands of their changing environment. Such
advantageous changes influenced by the environment are passed on to their off springs.
6. Who proposed the Theory of Natural Selection?
Ans: An English scientist Charles Darwin proposed the Theory of Natural selection
7. What is the Theory of natural selection also called?
Ans: The Theory of natural selection also called Darwinism
8. In which book did Darwin propose the idea of natural selection?
Ans: Darwin published his famous book "The Origin of Species" in which he proposed the idea of natural
selection.
9. Who is regarded as the Father of evolution?
Ans: Charles Darwin is regarded as the father of evolution.
10. What does the Theory of Natural selection state?
Ans: According to this theory
a. Organisms reproduce at faster rate resulting in a fierce competition for food and space.
b. This creates a struggle for existence in which every individual is fighting for survival.
c. Individuals with advantageous variations are better adapted to the environment than others.
d. These individuals will be more likely to survive than hers. This is called survival of the fittest.
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e. These individuals are most likely to reproduce and pass on their good qualities to their
offsprings. This process called natural selection. Darwin stated that nature selects the fittest and
rejects the weaker individuals.
11. Name the 2 principles on which Lamarck based his theory of evolution
Ans: a. Use and disuse of organs
b. Inheritance of acquired characters
12. What is meant by use and disuse of organs principle of Lamarckism
Ans: It states that parts of the body that are used extensively, become larger and stronger while those that are
not used, deteriorate.
13. Explain the origin of long neck in giraffe based on Lamarckism
Ans: 1. Use and disuse of organs
Lamarck suggested that the giraffe evolved from ground-feeding herbivores. At a later stage, the area
fell short of its ground level vegetation, and thus the giraffe took to feeding from trees. Constant
stretching of its neck and fore-limbs over many generations resulted in these structures becoming longer
and stronger so as to reach higher foliage (leaves)
2. Inheritance of acquired characters
It stated that an organism could pass its modifications to its offsprings. Lamarck postulated that the
long, muscular neck and fore-limbs of the living giraffe were passed on to them by their ancestors and
the same characters will continue to appear generation after generation.
14. What are vestigial organs?
Ans: Vestigial organs are those organs that have ceased to be of any use to the possessor but still persist
generation after generation in a reduced form.
15. List examples of vestigial organs in humans.
Ans: Wisdom tooth, Vermiform appendix, Ear pinna
16. State the location of
a. Wisdom tooth b. Vermiform appendix c. Ear pinna
Ans: a. Wisdom tooth: Last molars on each side of both the jaws.
b. Vermiform appendix: Projects from the blind end of the caecum as a narrow worm-like tube.
c. Ear pinna: Pinna is the projecting lobe-like part of the external ear
17. Why are third molars called wisdom tooth ?
Ans: The wisdom teeth are so called as they appear last at an age of about 17-20 years when an individual
gains maturity
18. What is the role of vermiform appendix in herbivores?
Ans: In herbivorous mammals (like sheep) the vermiform appendix is helpful in digesting cellulose.
19. State the function of the ear pinna
Ans: The function of the ear pinna is to gather the sound waves
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20. List the salient features of Darwinism
Ans: a. Overproduction b. Struggle for existence
c. Variation d. Survival of the fittest
21. Give reason
Despite the high rate of reproduction the number of individuals of each species remains roughly constant
over a long period of time in a fairly stable environment
Ans: The resources in a given area are limited. As the number of individuals increase it leads to competition
which eliminates those that are not well adapted to the environment. Nature favours advantageous
variations and selects the fittest
22. What is the cause of overproduction in organisms?
Ans: More individuals are produced by organisms to increase the chances of their survival.
23. What leads for struggle for existence in individuals?
Ans: According to Darwin, individuals multiply in a geometric ratio whereas space and food remain almost
constant. This leads to a struggle for existence among the organisms.
24. What resources do individuals compete for ?
Ans: Organisms compete for favourable shelter, climate, food supply and breeding places.
25. What are two types of competition?
Ans: Competition may be between members of the same species (intraspecific) or different species
(interspecific).
26. What are variations?
Ans: Differences among individuals are called variations. These variations may be harmful or advantageous.
Harmful variations will make its possessor unfit in the struggle for existence and will lead to its being
weeded out. On the other hand, individuals possessing the advantageous variations will be more
successful in the struggle for existence
27. What is meant by natural selection/survival of the fittest?
Ans: During the struggle for existence, only those individuals can survive which have advantageous
adaptations or variations. The individuals or races without these variations will be routed out. Nature
selects only those variations which are suitable. This is what Darwin termed as natural selection.
28. What is meant by speciation?
Ans: Origin of new species by gradual modification is called speciation.
29. How does speciation occur?
Ans: As the environment changes, new advantages get selected in nature. After many generations, sufficient
characters would alter so as to change the species into a new one.
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30. Explain natural selection using the peppered moth as an example.
Ans: The peppered moth, Biston betularia existed in 2 varieties. One which had light coloured wings dotted
with spots and another which had darker wings
This moth with its light coloured wings dotted with spots blended well with the lichens growing on the
houses and tree trunks on which it rested.
The one with darker wings was rare in 1850 in Manchester area because it was eaten up by birds being
easily visible to them due to its black wings. The light coloured moth was seen in large number as it was
well concealed while resting on houses and tree trunks. This situation was observed in this area before
industrial revolution.
After industrial revolution in Manchester, the entire situation changed. The pollution in this area caused
the death of lichens and darkening of the tree trunks with soot. Now, the dark variety was better hidden
in this area, and was not easily picked by birds.
Natural selection acted through the agency of the birds and light coloured moth easily became the prey.
So, the dark variety of moth survived better left more off springs and almost nearly replaced the light
form. This phenomenon has been called industrial melanism.
31. Distinguish Darwinism and Lamarckism
Ans:
Lamarck's theory Darwin's theory
1. Known as the theory of inheritance of acquired 1. Known as the theory of natural selection.
characters.
2. Believes in the use and disuse of an organ. Parts 2. Believes that since variations exist in
used or changes acquired get transmitted to next individuals, only the fittest survive in the struggle
generation. for existence.
3. New species evolve after a long period of time 3. New species evolve due to accumulation of
after many generations by acquiring new characters. favourable variations over a long period of time.
32. What is Neo Darwinism?
Ans: Darwin was unable to explain the sources of variations which lead to natural selection. Modern genetics
helped revealed the sources of variations, and Darwin's original theory of natural selection was
modified. This new theory is termed as Neo-Darwinism.
33. Who coined the term Homo sapiens?
Ans: Carl Linnaeus coined the term Homo sapiens'.
34. To which order does modern man belong ?
Ans: In the animal kingdom Homo sapiens or modern man belongs to the order Primates along with monkeys
and apes.
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35. What made the human ancestors to start walking on the ground?
Ans: When human evolution began, forests had dwindled by colder glaciation (the period of ice age marked
temperatures and the formation of glaciers). This forced the common ancestors of apes and primitive
humans to come down from trees, where they lived. They started walking on the ground on all the four
limbs.
36. Where were human fossils primarily obtained from?
Ans: Fossils primarily obtained from Asia and Africa help us construct the evolutionary path that man has
followed.
37. When did man originate?
Ans: Man is supposed to have originated from some ape-like ancestors about 15 to 20 million years ago (i.e.
the as late as Miocene period). These ape-like ancestors serve common ancestor for both apes and
humans.
38. What major changes were seen going from ape to human?
Ans: Going from ape to human form required many major changes like:
a. Bipedal locomotion and the freeing of forelimbs from ground.
b. Increase in the cranial capacity.
c. Reduction in the size of canines due to omnivorous feeding habits.
d. Loss of jaw power.
e. Development of chin.
f. Development of a forehead and brow ridges.
g. Increase in height.
h. Erect posture by the development of lumbar curve.
i. Reduction in body hair.
39. Who is the man like primate considered as a prehuman ancestor?
Ans: Ramapithecus is the man like primate considered as a prehuman ancestor
40. Arrange the human ancestors in a logical sequence
Ans: Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon and Homo sapiens sapiens
(modern man).
41. Describe Australopithecus with respect to
Ans: Height : 120 cm tall (3-5-4 feet)
Cranial capacity: 450-600 cm3
Posture: It walked nearly straight. The vertebral column had a distinct lumbar curve with
broad pelvis.
Teeth/Dentition: The teeth were strikingly man-like .
The dental arch was a smoothly rounded parabola,
Canines did not project beyond the level of other teeth
Simian gap (a gap present in apes between incisors and canines on each
side of the jaw) was absent.
Face and Jaw: Prognathous (protruding outwards) face, and the chin was absent.
Low forehead , Eyebrow ridges projected over the eyes.
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42. Describe Homo habilis (first man-like ancestor) with respect to
Ans: Height : 150 cm tall (4-5-5 feet in height)
Cranial capacity: 680-735 cm3
Posture: They showed bipedal locomotion (slightly more erect than Australopithecus)
Teeth/Dentition: Showed small canines like that of modern man.
Face and Jaw: Large head and a less protruding face,ape like head
43. Describe Homo erectus with respect to
Ans: Height : 120-150 cm (5-5-5 feet)
Cranial capacity: 800-1125 cm3
Posture: They walked fully upright/erect and their pelvis was more bowl-shaped.
Homo erectus were called so because they stood erect and the proportion of arms
and legs that of the modern man.
Teeth/Dentition: The size and arrangement of their teeth resembled more with humans rather than
those of apes. Canines of the lower jaw more like that of modern man
Face and Jaw: Their forehead was receding; Prominent brow ridges, jaws were still projecting
(prognathous) and chin absent
Special features: The first ancestors to hunt animals and use fire.
44. Describe Neanderthal man with respect to
Ans: Height : 160 cm (5.5 feet).
Cranial capacity: About 1450 cm3
Posture: Absolute bipedalism
Teeth/Dentition: Small canines, Heavier than modern man, Wisdom tooth present
Face and Jaw: Large head, broad-flat and sloping forehead, prominent brow ridges, almost no
chin
Special features: Neanderthal men were successors of Homo erectus.
The Homo sapiens is believed to have arisen from the main Neanderthal
population and developed into Cro-Magnon.
45. Describe Cro Magnon with respect to
Ans: Height : 180 cm (5-5-6 feet) in height
Cranial capacity: 1450 to 1600 cm3
Teeth/Dentition: Man-like dentition with small canines, teeth closer to each other, Wisdom teeth
present
Posture: Perfect bipedalism
Face and Jaw: Broad face ,rounded forehead and a prominent chin. Face was perfectly
orthognathous (straight and strong jawed), strong jawed
Special features: Cave-dwelling beings who made tools from finely chipped stones. They were
good hunters and knew how to use the hide of animals, but did not know
agriculture and domestication.
Modern man evolved from Cro-Magnon man towards the end of the last Glacial
period
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46. Enlist the characteristics of Homo sapiens sapiens (modern man)
Ans: a. Bipedal locomotion, with four reversed curves in the spine.
b. Upright head, skull on top of the vertebral column, eyes facing in front, neck more mobile and
able to rotate the head for vision in different directions, possessing binocular vision.
c. Cranial capacity ranging from 1450 to 1600 cm3 and a much enlarged cerebrum.
d. Straight limbs with hindlimbs longer and forelimbs shorter. Fingers and toes with flat nails.
e. Forehead steep, reduced brow ridges.
f. Well developed and prominent chin.
g. Thoracic region flattened into a broad chest by flattening of sternum.
h. Hair on limbs and body highly reduced.
i. Entirely erect posture.
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