Life Science HUMAN EVOLUTION

The theory of evolution

In basic terms the theory of evolution is the belief or theory that all life on earth and all life forms evolved (develop, gradually change or mature) from one ancestral creature.

Human evolution is referred to as the evolutionary process leading up to the modern day appearance of Homo sapiens or as we know them, humans.

It’s the process of change by which people or human beings are thought to have originated from apelike ancestors and to majority of the work the theory of evolution is closely associated with an image showing how physical similarities indicate that modern human species are closely related or have a close relationship to another group of primate species, the apes, an example of he image ( top left corner )

Homo species

Homo –

Definition

noun

(taxonomy) A genus comprised of primates characterized by bipedalism, skills in tool usage, and large cranial capacity

List of homo species

Homo habilis

Homo ergaster

Homo erectus

Homo neanderthalensis

Homo sapiens

Homo habilis

Earliest fossils placed in Homo gene.

Approximate age: 2.4 to 1.6 million years

Stone tools found giving the species its name, ‘ handy man’

Homo ergaster

First fully bipedal Homo species

Large brained

Existed between 1.9 and 1.5 million years ago

Shows decrease in sexual dimorphism compared to ancestors

Where previously assigned to H. Erectus

COMPARISON BETWEEN

HOMO ERECTUS AND MODERN MAN

Homo erectus

Originated in Africa about 1.8 million years ago

First hominin to leave Africa

Homo neanderthalensis

Lived in Europe and West east from 200 000 to 28 000 years ago

Thick boned

Large brain

Buried their dead

Made hunting tools

Homo sapiens

Appeared in Africa by 195 000 years ago

All humans are descendents from African ancestors

Oldest fossil outside Africa about 115 000 years

In 2004, 18 000 year old fossil was found in Indonesia and a new

small hominin was named- Homo floresiesis

H sapiens is the first group to show evidence of symbolic and

sophisticated thought.

Homo floresiensis

In 2004, 18,000 year old fossils

were found in Indonesia, and a

new small hominin was named:

Homo floresiensis

Austrolopiths

Any of several extinct humanlike primates of the

genusAustralopithecus and closely related genera such

as Ardipithecusand Paranthropus.

List of Austrolopiths

Australopithicus africanus

Australopithicus afarensis

A.africanus

Meaning “Southern ape of Africa”

Walked upright ( bipedal)

Humanlike hands and teeth

Had a brain 1/3 of modern humans

An example : Mrs Ples

Lived more than 2 million years ago in the cradle of Humankind

A.afarensis

Discovered in Afar ( Ethiopia) in 1974, known as Lucy

Brain size of a chimp

Longer lower jaw

Arms are were longer than humans ( arboreal movement)

Appearance of skull

END

SUMMERY OF OUR “ANCESTORS