Topic 10: Human change over time

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Topic 10: Human change over time.

Australopithecus

a genus of hominins from which the Homo genus is descended; sometimes referred to as australopithecines.

ape

a large primate that lacks a tail.

binocular vision

a type of vision that allows for both peripheral vision and a perception of depth using two eyes.

bipedalism

a form of locomotion involving routine movement on two feet.

brachiation

a mode of locomotion involving swinging from one handhold to another.

carrying angle

the angle formed between the femur and the vertical; also known as the bicondular angle.

common ancestor

the species that two or more descendants have diverged from.

cranium

the vertebrate skull minus the lower jaw.

Denisovans

members of an extinct hominin species in the genus Homo.

foramen magnum

a hole at the base of the skull in which the vertebral column attaches.

fossil

evidence or remains of an organism that lived long ago.

genus

a taxonomic rank that is less specific than species.

haplogroup

a group of people with similar haplotypes who share a common ancestor.

haplotype

a region of DNA in the D-loop of mtDNA that varies between individuals.

hominins

modern human species and our extinct close relatives that could walk with a bipedal locomotion.

hominoids

a superfamily of primates that lack a prehensile tail, including apes and humans.

Homo

a genus of hominins that includes modern humans and closely related species with an increased brain size and a longer leg-to-arm ratio.

Homo erectus

an extinct human species appearing about two million years ago that was the first to migrate from Africa.

Homo neanderthalensis

an extinct Homo species known as Neanderthals, who were thought to have interbred with Homo sapiens.

Homo sapiens

modern humans.

knuckle walk

a style of walking on four limbs in which the forelimbs are in contact with the ground through the knuckles of flexed hands.

mammals

a group of animals characterized by the presence of fur or hair and milk-producing mammary glands.

mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

DNA located on the mitochondria in cells that is usually inherited maternally.

opposable thumb

a thumb that allows for grasping and can be rotated and moved to touch other fingers.

Paranthropus

a group of extinct hominins known as the robust hominins, who are not thought to be ancestors of modern humans.

primates

a group of mammals with opposable thumbs, flat nails and binocular vision.

species

organisms that are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

zygomatic arches

cheekbones comprising horizontal bony ridges on a mammalian skull.