1. Linnaean Classification
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
Linnaean Classification
Pongidae
Hylobatidae
Hominidae
Apes = primates (grasping hands, binocular vision) with no tails

2. Phylogenetic Classification
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
Phylogenetic Classification
1-4% difference
Hylobatidae
Hominidae

3. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi F. Animals G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
How can the small genetic difference account for the dramatic differences that occur between these species?

4. Homo sapiens Chimps, Gorillas Larger Head/body ratio smaller
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
2. Patterns:
a. Morphological and Behavioral
Homo sapiens Chimps, Gorillas
Larger Head/body ratio smaller
Smaller jaw/head ratio larger
Shorter limb/body ratio longer
Less hair more hair
Better learning poorer learning

5. Juvenile Primate Adult Primate Larger Head/body ratio smaller
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
2. Patterns:
a. Morphological and Behavioral
Differences correlate with developmental differences
Juvenile Primate Adult Primate
Larger Head/body ratio smaller
Smaller jaw/head ratio larger
Shorter limb/body ratio longer
Less hair more hair
Better learning poorer learning

6. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi F. Animals G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
2. Patterns:
a. Morphological and Behavioral
Big head, short limbs
Small head, long limbs

7. Primate Developmental Trajectory Chimp Human
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
2. Patterns:
a. Morphological and Behavioral
b. Genetic
Developmental genes can have profound effects on the final morphology of the organism.
Primate Developmental Trajectory
Chimp
Human

8. What are some of these genetic differences? The HAR1 RNA molecule.
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
2. Patterns:
a. Morphological and Behavioral
b. Genetic
What are some of these genetic differences?
The HAR1 RNA molecule.
- not a coding RNA; probably regulatory
- nearby genes associated with transcriptional regulation and neurodevelopment are upregulated in humans.
- only 2 changes in sequence between chicks and chimps; 18 between chimps and humans. “HAR” stands for “human accelerated region” – changing more rapidly than drift can explain. why? Selection.
Changes result in a profound change in RNA structure and, presumably, binding efficiency.
Beniaminov A, Westhof E, and Krol A
Distinctive structures between chimpanzee and human in a brain noncoding RNA. RNA 14:
Beniaminov A et al. RNA 2008;14:

9. Sahelanthropus tchadensis
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
2. Patterns:
a. Morphological and Behavioral
b. Genetic
c. Fossils
Chimpanzee
Human
Sahelanthropus tchadensis
Sahelanthropus tchadensis – discovered in Chad in Dates to 6-7 mya. Only a skull. Is it on the human line? Is it bipedal? Probably not (foramen magnum). Primitive traits, as a common ancestor might have.

10. Ardipithecus ramidus: 4. 3-4. 5 mya
Ardipithecus ramidus: mya. Discovered in 1994 by Haile-Sailasse, Suwa, and White, with the most complete fossils were not described until Arboreal, but facultatively bipedal. Grasping toes.

11. Sahelanthropus tchadensis
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
F. Animals
G. Human Evolution
1. Overview:
2. Patterns:
a. Morphological and Behavioral
b. Genetic
c. Fossils
Chimpanzee
Human
Homo sapiens
Australopithecus afarensis
Australopithecus africanus
Homo habilis
Homo erectus
Sahelanthropus tchadensis

12. Innovation: Bipedality
Radiation of Bipedal Hominids
Competitive contraction?

13. Australopithecus afarensis: 2. 8-3. 9 mya
Australopithecus afarensis: mya. A femur discovered in 1973 by Donald Johansson suggested an upright gait, confirmed by his discovery in 1974 of the ‘Lucy” specimen. Also, the Laetoli prints (found by Mary Leakey) were probably made by A. afarensis, and in 2006, a juvenile A. afaresis was found.

14. Paranthropus aethiopicus: 2. 5-2
Paranthropus aethiopicus: mya, discovered by Alan Walker and Richard Leakey, the “black skull” is one of the most imposing hominid fossils there is! Aside from the high cheekbones and the sagittal crest, it has similar proportions to A. afarensis and is probably a direct descendant. It probably gave rise to the “robust” lineage of Paranthropus.

15. Paranthropus boisei: 1. 2-2. 6 mya
Paranthropus boisei: mya. Discovered by Mary Leakey in Olduvai Gorge in 1959, it was originally classified as Zinjanthropus and nicknamed “Zinj” or “nutcracker man” because of the large grinding molars.

16. Paranthropus robustus: 1. 2-2. 0 mya
Paranthropus robustus: mya. Discovered in South Africa in 1938 by Robert Broom.

17. Competitive contraction?
Innovation: Bipedality
Radiation of Bipedal Hominids

18. Homo habilis: mya, discovered by Louis and Mary Leakey, in association with stone tools. “Handy man”. Longer arms and smaller brain than other members of the genus.

19. Homo ergaster (H. erectus): 1. 3-1
Homo ergaster (H. erectus): mya, the most complete fossil hominid skeleton was discovered in 1984 by Alan Walker who called it “Turkana Boy”. Some consider this species intermediate to H. habilis and H. heidelbergensis/H. sapiens, leaving H. erectus as a distinct Asian offshoot of the main line to H. sapiens.
However, most paleontologists suggest that H. ergaster is the African ancestor – even a chronospecies or population - of H. erectus, which is ancestral to more recent Homo species.

20. Homo erectus: mya; originating in Africa, but then leaving for Asia (Peking and Java Man). Discovered in Java by Eugene Dubois in Certainly one of the most successful hominid species in history; perhaps lasting as relictual species on islands in Indonesia as:
Homo floresiensis: 94,000-13,000 years, discovered by Mike Mormood on the island of Flores. Shoulder anatomy is reminiscent of H. erectus, but could be an allometeric function of the small size (3 ft).

21. Homo neaderthalensis: 30,000-150,000; first discovered in 1829
Homo neaderthalensis: 30, ,000; first discovered in Descended from H. heidelbergensis.
Homo sapiens idaltu: 160,000 – oldest Homo sapiens fossil – found in Africa in 2003… afar valley.

22. Competitive contraction?
Innovation: Bipedality
Radiation of Bipedal Hominids