1. Section 16.1 Human Evolution

2. Objectives Recognize the adaptations of primates
Compare and contrast the diversity of living primates
Distinguish the evolutionary relationships of primates

3. Human Evolution
Primates: adapted for an arboreal (tree-dwelling) existence.
Primates range in size from the 30-gram (1 oz) Pygmy Mouse Lemur to the 200-kilogram (440 lb) Mountain Gorilla.

4. Primate Classification
I. Prosimians- Lemurs and tarsiers.
Cat-like face,
large eyes
Oldest primate: Purgatoriosus (squirrel sized).

5. II. Old world Monkeys (tails)
Ex. Baboons, Mandrill
From Africa and Asia
Larger than other primates.

6. III. New World Monkeys (flat-nosed)
Ex. Howler monkey, pygmy marmoset (world’s smallest monkey)
Smaller than other primates
Exist in Central and South America

7. IV. Great Apes
Larger-bodied, no tail
Primarily ground dwelling

8. A) Orangutans (orange-man) Borneo (Asia)- found only Asia
orang hutan, meaning "forest person".
(orange-man)
Borneo (Asia)- found only Asia

9. B) Gorilla Largest living primate Central Africa Mountain gorilla
Lowland gorilla
The DNA of gorillas is 98%–99% identical to that of a human

10. C) Chimpanzees and Bonobos
West and central Africa, Congo river
species are the closest living relatives to humans
The Common Chimpanzee has an omnivorous diet, a troop hunting culture based on beta males led by an alpha male, and highly complex social relationships.

11. D) Humans
DNA evidence indicates that modern humans originated in east Africa about 200,000 years ago
Humans have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection and problem solving.

12. Human Ancestors
I. Australopithecus afrensis: southern ape-man, a far region of Ethiopia
Had a small brain size

13. Lucy (Australopithecus)
Fossil discovered by Don Johansen
Oldest- known upright waling hominid- (means human)
Shorter than modern humans
Lived between 3 and 5 million years ago

14. Characteristics of Lucy
1 meter tall
About 60 lbs
Brain size of Lucy
450 cc or cm 3 (cubic centimeters)
(1cc=1ml or 450 grams or ½ pound

15. Proof of Bipedalism Bipedal: Walked upright on two legs Evidence:
Locking knee cap
Straightened spine
Broader hip
Forarmen magnum is the bottom of the skull (skull hole)

16. Advantages of upright walking
Stand taller
Move more efficiently, long distances
Freed up hands for:
Food gathering
Defense-weapon and tool use

17. Lucy Facial Features: No forehead Heavy brow ridge Wide flat nose
Projecting (prognathic) jaws
Human-like teeth, no canines

18. II. A africanus 3.6 -2.4 MYA (million years ago) Bipedal 60-90 lbs
Human-like teeth
Sexual dimorphism-difference in size and structure between the genders
Fossil- “Taung Baby’
Raymond Dart- 1924

19. Africanus- gracile
Robust-A. robustus
A. boisei side branch (not our ancestor)
Large jaws and molars for eating nuts and roots
(side note)
Gracile: skinny, thin, small, graceful
Robust: husky, fat

20. III. Homo habilis “handy man” First stone tool users Louis Leakey:1964
750 cc/750 mL- brain size
Lived MYA
Smaller molars
Scavengers not hunters
Tools used to scrape meat or break bones for marrow

21. IV. Homo erectus “Upright man” 1.6 million – 250,000 years ago
Evolved to be very “Human Like”
Skeleton: longer and stouter
Height: 6 ft
Tool Users: hand axe
Lived in family groups
Hunted larger game
First fossil: 1891 “Java Man”

22. Migrated out of Africa
Fossils have been found in Spain, Russia, Indonesia, and Middle East
First to use fire

23. Out of Africa: Homo sapiens evolved in Africa and migrated out
Out of Africa: Homo sapiens evolved in Africa and migrated out. The different races represent slight regional differences

24. Multi Regional Theory
Homo erectus migrated out an evolved independently in the different races of homo sapiens.

25. V. H. neandertalenis
Neanderthal man formerly a subspecies of H. sapiens
150,000-30,000 years ago
Short, stocky
5 ft tall
Large, broad nose
Well adapted for cold
Aggressive hunter
Not a direct ancestor of H. sapiens

26. First to bury their dead
Stones marked their graves

27. Neanderthal Extinction
Coincides with the appearance of modern humans in Europe
Killed by humans
Interbred with humans
Infected by human diseases
Out-competed by modern humans/ out-smarted by early humans

28. VI. Homo sapiens “Wise Humans” Archaic H. Sapiens:
(Ancient) Appeared 150,000 years ago
He did not seem to have culture, or creativity
Did evolve in Central Africa

29. VI. Homo sapiens (continued)
Modern Humans:
Appeared 50,000 years ago
Highly advanced tool making
Hunter gatherers
Agriculture and civilizations

30. Alternatives Anti Evolution: beliefs which try to debunk science.
Pseudo Science: not based on scientific method.
Anomalous: doesn’t fit the accepted theory
Anachronism: Something out of place in time

31. creationism
A literal belief in the biblical account of Creation as it appears in the Book of Genesis. Creationists believe that the creation of the world and all its creatures took place in six calendar days; they therefore deny the theory of evolution.

32. intelligent design  
The assertion or belief that physical and biological systems observed in the universe result from purposeful design by an intelligent being rather than from chance or undirected natural processes.