Human Evolution | Genetics and Evolution - IB23

Human Scientific Classification

1. Domain - Eukaryota

2. Kingdom - Animalia

3. Phylum - Chordata

4. Class - Mammalia

5. Order - Primates

6. Family - Hominidae

7. Genus - Homo

8. Species - H. Sapiens

Human and Monkey Similarities

Due to being in the same order primates, characteristics shared are:

1. Large Brain

2. Large Body Size

3. Rotating Shoulders

4. Nails Instead of Claws

5. Front Facing Eyes for Depth Perception

Human Genome Share

Though all monkeys share the same ancestors, humans are not descendants of chimpanzees.

- Chimpanzees & Bonobos - 99%
- Gorillas - 98%
- Orangutans - 97%

Other Hominids

1. Tomai | Sahelanthropus Tchadensis

2. Orrorin Tugenensis

3. Australopithecus Afarensis

4. Homo Habilis

5. Homo Erectus

6. Homo Floresiensis

7. Homo Neanderthalensis

8. Homo Sapiens

Tomai | Sahelanthropus Tchadensis

Present 7 Million Years Ago in Africa

Orrorin Tugenensis

Present 6 Million Years Ago in Africa.

They inhabited forests.

Australopithecus Afarensis

Present 3 Million Years Ago in Africa.

“Lucy”, the earliest skeleton found in 1970 in Ethiopia, nearly complete skeleton. It was proof of hominids walking on two legs, having a large brain and 1 meter tall.

Homo Habilis

Present 2 Million Years Ago in Africa.

They were the first hominids to make primitive tools.

Homo Erectus

Present 1 Million Years Ago in Africa, Asia and Indonesia.

Possibly the first hominids to leave Africa, they improved tools and used fire.

Homo Neanderthalensis

Present 250,000-300,000 Years Ago in Europe.

They adapted to living in the cold, and had traces of religion/burials or culture. They had the FOX P2 gene for speech, although not as developed as today. Hypothetically they were outcompeted by modern humans, and mated with them. The European population has 2% neanderthal DNA as discovered by Svante Pääbo in 2022 who won a Nobel prize for the grand discovery.

Homo Floresiensis

Present 18,000 Years Ago in Indonesia, Flores.

“Hobbit”, they were quite small and could’ve descended from homo erectus though became smaller due to living on islands.

Homo Sapiens

Present 200,000-Today in Africa.

Some homo sapiens left Africa around 100,000-70,000 years ago. Cro Magnon people in France made cave paintings 35,000 years ago.