Human Evolution Definitions

Cultural Evolution

non-genetic passing on of information through teaching of ideas, beliefs and knowledge which is passed from peer to peer at a fast rate

Multi Regional Hypotheses

Homo Erectus left Africa 1.8 million years ago and spread throughout Europe and Asia. In these areas, Homo Erectus evolved into Homo Sapiens simultaneously and included gene flow between regions.

Out of Africa hypothesis

Homo Erectus left Africa 1.8 million years ago throughout Europe and Asia. These lines went extinct and Homo Sapiens evolved in Africa before moving out of Africa to Europe and Asia

Advantages of Fire

makes food softer and easier to eat/ digest, kills bacteria reducing disease, keeps predators away, source of warmth, move into new habitats and increased social interaction 

Advantages of Agriculture

food supply easier to obtain, fewer people died of starvation, specialized skill developed by those not involved in getting food, made technological advancements, trade networks

Disadvantages of Agriculture

diet restricted to what they grew, dependent on weather, more people closer together bought disease, time consuming

Sagittal Crest

Associated with diet. A ridge of bone along the centre top of the skull, where the jaw muscles attach in Apes. This is much smaller in humans

Foramen Magnum

Associated with bipedalism. A large hole at the underside of the skull where the spinal cord enters and attaches to the brain. In apes it is towards the back of the skull and in humans is more central of the skull.

Nuchal Crest

Associated with Bipedalism.Attachment at the back of the skull needed for neck muscles to be attached to. Humans don’t have muscles that need to hold up the spine.

Brow Ridge

Associated with Diet. Bony ridges above and around the eyes which supports chewing muscles. In humans this is less prominent as our skull has rounded out to form more cranial capacity

Mandible

Associated with diet. The jaw or lower jawbone which is U shaped in Apes and large to support chewing and a rounded bow shape in Humans and smaller

Spine

Humans have an s shaped spine while Apes have a c shaped spine

Valgus Angle

Human knees are angled inwards (the angle of the femur relative to the knee), while in Apes the knees bend outwards

Cranium

The part of the skull that encloses the brain

Diastema

Space between the teeth for large canine teeth to fit into

Prognathism

Associated with Diet. When the lower portion of the face projects forward in Apes, while in humans it is vertical as we have a smaller jaw and teeth

Advantages of bipedalism

Carrying young, free hands to carry things, heat regulation, see predators easily

Broca’s region

The region of the brain that coordinates the muscular movements required to produce speech

Wernicke’s area

Receives sensory inputs and is the region of the brain responsible for language comprehension

What Scientists look for to determine animals intelligence 

brain size compared to body mass and high surface area

Disadvantages of bipedalism

giving birth to larger headed babies means they are more helpless and birth is painful. they require alot of parental care.

Biological Evolution

occurs through genes and can only be passed down genetically and is a slow rate

Hominins

modern humans and our extinct ancestral relatives inlcuding every species from the divergence from our common ancestor

Hominid

All extinct and living great apes including humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

passed on from mother to child and is not changed due to meiosis. All humans can link their mtDNA to a single female mt Eve who lived 200,000 years ago

Y Chromosome

Passed down the male line and is not altered. Males today can trace their Y Chromosomes back to Africa

Oldowan Tools

Associated with Homo Habilis which were stones with a single sharp edge and were used to extract bone marrow. This lead to high fat and protein diet and more brain development

Acheulian Tools

Associated with Homo Erectus which were two sided, tear drop shaped hand axes. 

Mousterian Tools

Associated with Homo Neanderthalensis which used the levallois technique which is pre prepared stone that was broken off. Specific tools were made for specific things to hunt Mammoths

Upper Paleolithic Tools

Associated with Homo Sapiens made out of bone, antler and wood and made different tools used for hunting and fishing etc

What are the evidence for the Out of Africa Theory

Fossils found to suggest that hybridisation between species and similarities between Homo Sapien fossils in areas and Homo Erectus in those areas, Nuclear DNA greater genetic diversity formed within populations inside Africa then outside

Pelvis

In humans the pelvis is shorter and wider (bowl shaped) and supports the weight of the upper body