1. The Human Chimp
Aug 22nd

2. How Similar are Chimps and Humans?
Implications
What are the similarities?

3. Molecular Clocks
Used to measure genetic distances and to date times of evolutionary divergence
How it works:

4. DNA The best molecule for use with molecular clocks
To measure the change in DNA structure:
Mix DNA from 2 species
Measure how many degrees of temperature the melting point of the mixed DNA is reduced below the melting point of pure DNA from a single species
A melting point lowered by 1°C means the DNAs of the 2 species differ by roughly 1%

5. Family Tree of the Higher Primates

6. Man the Hunter
Unclear whether early Homo sapiens were hunters or scavengers
Big-game hunting led to…

7. The Human Family Tree

8. The Great Leap Forward When modern humans replaced Neanderthals
3 changes launched us in the direction of modern humans
4 mya – upright posture
3 mya – Australopithecus robustus and A. africanus
2.5 mya – tool use

9. The Great Leap Forward 40,000 years ago in Europe
Examples of Aurignacian Culture art