1 / 40

Human Evolution

Discover the fascinating similarities between humans and apes in terms of bones, muscles, chromosomes, and DNA, and explore the sequence of human evolution through major fossil findings. Learn about transitional fossils like Lucy and advancements in tool-making abilities. Dive into the origins of Homo sapiens and the significance of mitochondrial DNA in tracing human ancestry.

ebelcher
Download Presentation

Human Evolution

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Human Evolution BIO 1113/1114 Oklahoma City Community College Dennis Anderson

  2. Animal Connection • Humans share many traits with animals • We are most similar to apes • Same 206 bones • All but 3 of 650 muscles the same • DNA is 98% the same • Same blood types Albino Gorilla

  3. Comparing Chromosomes • All apes have 48 chromosomes • Chromosome bands between human (H) and chimpanzee (C) 99% the same • Fusion of two ape chromosomes formed human chromosome 2

  4. Why are we so similar to apes? • DNA studies indicate there was a common primate ancestor to humans and chimpanzees that lived about 6 to 7 million years ago. • This primate gave rise to both the chimpanzee and the human family. 4

  5. Sequence of Human Evolution • Hundreds of fossils of over 20 hominin species have been found • Hominins are human-like primates • bipedal • Some of the major fossils will be discussed in this presentation

  6. Australopithecus afarensis • 3.2 million years ago • Nicknamed Lucy • Walked upright (bipedal) • Small brain • Skeleton human like • Feet • Pelvis • Upright stance

  7. Australopithecus afarensis • Skull ape-like • Arms are long like an ape

  8. Comparative Anatomy Lucy Gorilla Human • Gorilla pelvis adapted for knuckle walking • Human pelvis adapted for upright walking • Lucy’s pelvis is very similar to human pelvis

  9. Knuckle Walking • Requires an elongated pelvis and long arms

  10. Lucy’s pelvis allowed her to walk like a human instead of an ape.

  11. Fossilized Footprints • Footprints left when a pair of Australopithecines walked in the ash of a recently erupted volcano

  12. Lucy Chimp Skull Anatomy • Thick brow ridges like a chimpanzee • Cranial capacity 400 cc. Chimp 350 cc. • Teeth similar to human teeth

  13. Lucy: A Transitional Fossil • Transitional fossil shows characteristics of two kinds of animals • Represent the transition from one organism to another • Ape characteristics • Skull • Cranial capacity • Human characteristics • Walked upright • Feet • Pelvis

  14. Australopithecus africanus • 2.8 million years ago • Cranial capacity 460 cc

  15. Australopithecus africanus • More human-like body than Lucy • Cranial features more human-like

  16. Homo habilis • Cranial capacity 630 cc • Flatter face than Australopithecines

  17. Homo habilis • Made and Used tools • Nicknamed handy man

  18. Homo ergaster • 1.9 million to 1.4 million years ago • 700-850 cc cranial capacity • Large brow ridges

  19. Homo ergaster • Skeleton very similar to modern man • 6 feet 3 inches tall • Working Man • More advanced tools than H. habilis • Hand axes • Cleavers • Used fire

  20. Homo erectus 1.8 million to 35,000 years ago 1,000 cc cranial capacity Large brow ridges Sloping forehead

  21. Homo erectus

  22. Homo neanderthalensis • 200,000 to 25,000 years ago • Cranial capacity up to 1750 cc • Larger than modern man • No chin • Sloping forehead

  23. Homo neanderthalensis • Skeleton more robust than modern man • Much stronger than modern man

  24. Homo neanderthalensis • Made tools and weapons • Buried dead with tools and flowers • Made musical instruments • Flutes

  25. Homo sapiens • 200,000 years ago to present • Photo is a skull 35,000 years old • 1400 cc cranial capacity • Vertical forehead • Pronounced chin

  26. Modern Homo sapiens • Small front teeth • Small brow ridges • Rounded cranium

  27. Homo neanderthalensis Australopithecus afarensis Australopithecus africanus Homo ergaster Homo habilis Homo erectus Common ancestor Modern apes Sequence of Human EvolutionOne of several possibilities Homo sapiens

  28. Sahelanthropus tchadensis • 6 to 7 million years ago • Flat face like Homo • Cranial capacity about the same as a chimp • Walked upright

  29. Homo floresiensis & H. sapiens

  30. Evolution of Skull • Cranial capacity increases for a larger brain • Face become flatter • Brow ridges become smaller • Forehead becomes higher • Chin develops

  31. Mitochondrial DNA • Only inherited from mother • Mutates faster than nuclear DNA • Lacks repair enzymes

  32. Mitochondrial DNA • Studied in several different human populations • Greatest diversity found in African population • Therefore the oldest population • Molecular clock

  33. Mitochondrial Eve • Mother of all humans • She lived about 200,000 years ago in Africa

  34. Native American Origin • Four rare mtDNA haplotypes are found in Native Americans • The same haplotypes are found in Mongolia and China

  35. The End

More Related