Biogeography of the Genus Homo: Practice Flashcards

This flashcard set covers the evolutionary history, dispersal, and biogeographical patterns of the genus Homo, including Homo erectus, Neanderthals, Denisovans, and modern Homo sapiens.

When did the human and chimpanzee lineages diverge according to the molecular clock range mentioned in the lecture?

$4$ to $7,000,000$ years ago

What is the taxonomic tribe name that refers to hominins?

Hominini

What specific eye feature is unique to humans compared to other apes, which have dark-colored sclera?

White sclera

Which hypothesis suggests that humans evolved through various lineages that mostly ended in extinction rather than a single progressive march?

The surviving lineage model (out of many lineages)

What is the estimated time range for the existence of Homo erectus?

$1.8$ million to $100,000$ years ago

On which Indonesian island was the short-statured species Homo floresiensis discovered?

Flores Island

What nickname is frequently used in the press to refer to Homo floresiensis?

The Hobbit

Which biological phenomenon explains the small stature of Homo floresiensis and Homo luzonensis on islands?

Insular dwarfism

In what year were Neanderthals first scientifically described?

$$1864$$

What is the name of the cave in Russia where a distinct group of archaic humans was identified through DNA?

Denisova cave

According to genetics, which global population exhibits the highest level of genetic diversity?

Sub-Saharan Africans

When did the first successful and permanent out-of-Africa migration of Homo sapiens occur?

Approximately $90,000$ years ago

What percentage of Neanderthal DNA is typically found in modern humans with non-sub-Saharan ancestry?

$1\%$ to $4\%$

Why is there no Neanderthal Y-chromosome DNA found in modern humans despite the presence of X-chromosome DNA?

Hybridization typically occurred between Neanderthal males and Homo sapiens females

What specific adaptation did Tibetans acquire from Denisovan DNA?

A gene for better metabolism at high altitude

From which region is the majority of Madagascar's population genetically descended?

Southeast Asia (the direction of Indonesia/Polynesia)

Which rule states that individuals in colder climates tend to have larger body mass?

Bergmann's rule

Which rule relates shorter limb length (shorter arms and legs) to colder environmental adaptations?

Allen's rule

What is the effect called where genetic diversity decreases as a population moves farther from its origin source?

The founder effect

Which event $73,000$ years ago is suggested as a possible cause for the genetic bottleneck in Homo sapiens?

The Toba supervolcano eruption in Sumatra

How does human genetic diversity compare to that of gorillas or chimpanzees?

Humans have significantly lower genetic diversity than other African apes due to a population bottleneck