1. EL: To summarise the evolution of humans
1. Human Evolution
EL: To summarise the evolution of humans

2. Humans are mammals Humans belong to the class Mammalia Warm blooded
Bear live young
Hair or fur
Mammary glands
Teeth comprising incisors, canines, pre-canines and molars
Lower jaw made of single bone
Three bones in middle ear

3. Humans are primates Humans belong to the Primate order
Dextrous hands and feet with five digits that can grasp and curl (opposable thumb in some cases)
Flattened nails on digits that are sensitive to touch
Stereoscopic (3D) colour vision
Small number of offspring with relatively long gestation
Relatively large brains

4. Primate taxonomy

5. Humans are Hominoids No tail Five cusped molars Flattened rib cage
Locomotion by brachiation, knuckle walking or bipedalism
Postures is partially or fully erect allowing hands to manipulate food, care for young or use tools

6. Humans are Hominins Bipedal locomotion
Postures of foramen magnum is centered under the skull
Larger brain than other apes – well developed cerebral cortex
Smaller jaws and teeth
very fine hair
Shorter broader pelvis

7. Hominins over time

8. Trends in hominin evolution
Genus Australopithecus
3.7 Mya
Homo habilis
2.4 Mya
Homo erectus
1.8 Mya
Homo neanderthalensis
0.1 Mya-35,000 ya
Homo sapiens
130,000 ya
ONLY AFRICA
OUTSIDE AFRICA
ml INCREASING BRAIN SIZE ml
DECREASING SIZE OF TEETH AND SKULL STRUCTURES (INCLUDING BROW RIDGE)
INCREASING TOOL MAKING ABILITY
USE OF FIRE CULTURE LANGUAGE

9. Cultural Evolution
Involves transfer of non-genetic info (e.g. stories, beliefs, language, symbols etc) from one individual to another through learning and teaching
Very fast transmission – especially now due to technology

10. Technological evolution
Humans have extended their capabilities and control over their environment by applying their knowledge of the natural world – this is technology
We were able to do this because of bipedal locomotion and increased brain size

11. Changing lifestyle of Homo sapiens
Hunter-gatherer nomadic lifestyle.
Developing cooperative skills and division of labour.
Domestication of animals and plants as a ready food source – large sedentary groups develop other skills.
Increase in human population.
Industrial revolution has led to increased use of technology.
Last two hundred years – rapid technology change impacting on culture and biology.

12. Where do we come from?
Two theories
Out of Africa
Regional continuity

13. Out of Africa Humans originated in Africa around 100,000 years ago
Based on mito DNA and nuclear DNA

14. Regional continuity
Modern humans evolved independently in many regions of the world and have been exchanging genes for at least one million years

15. Homework Complete activity 15.4
Chapter 15 quick check, biochallenge and chapter review questions

16. Reflection
Will the facebook posterhelp you to remember the hominid species?
How else could you remember key details about them?