The History in Our Genes

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to human evolution, gene mutations, and the theories explaining the origins of modern humans.

Multiregional Hypothesis

The theory that modern humans evolved gradually across different regions of the Old World from older hominin species with gene flow between populations.

Out of Africa Hypothesis

The theory stating that modern humans originated in Africa and later migrated out, replacing archaic human populations.

Nonsynonymous Mutation

A nucleotide substitution that alters the amino acid sequence of a protein, more likely to be subject to natural selection.

Synonymous Mutation

A nucleotide substitution that does not alter the amino acid sequence of a protein, often considered selectively neutral.

Molecular Clock

A method used to estimate the time of divergence between species based on the rate of neutral mutations.

Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution

The theory that most molecular evolution happens at a neutral level due to genetic drift, rather than adaptive selection.

Nucleotide Substitution Rate

The rate at which one DNA base is replaced by another in a population over time.

Gene Flow

The transfer of genetic material between populations through migration.

Anatomically Modern Humans (Homo sapiens)

The species name for modern humans, which evolved and diversified primarily from Africa.

Fossil Evidence

Physical remains or traces of organisms from the past that support theories of human evolution.