Bio 2- L5-Tetrapods and Human evolution

what tetrapods?

• craniates- with a head

• vertebrates- with a backbone

• gnathostomes- with a jaw

• osteichyans- with lungs or swim bladders

• lobe finned- with 4 limbs and 5 digits

why did tetrapods move to land?

• empty niches

• avoid competition and predation

• safer place to lay eggs

what is needed to move to land?

• need skeletal support

• lungs to breathe air

• limbs to support yourself

• neck to look for food

why’re humans special-or not?

• opposable thumbs- but so do other primates

• we use language to communicate- so do dolphins

• we use tools- so do chimps and otters

• we are hairless- but not actually- just lighter and shorter

what is actually special about humans and what do people use to tell if a fossil is humanoid?

• foramen magnum- in humans is under skull, chimps it is tilted backwards

• lumbar curve in humans- in chimps its straight

• human feet are for weight and balance- chimps are for grappling

• ilac blades are tilted inwards - chimps are flat

example of human evolving nowadays?

• after domestication of cattle- mutation in LCT gene for lactose tolerance even in adulthood