Human Evolution

Question 1

Hominid

Answer 1

Any member of the group consisting of all modern + extinct humans and great apes

Question 2

Classify

Answer 2

Arrange a group of people in classes or categories according to shared qualities or characteristics

Question 3

Taxonomy

Answer 3

A hierachiacl system for classifying and identifying organisms

Question 4

Species

Answer 4

Only organisms in the same species can produce fertile offspring - presumes you are in the same genus

Question 5

Hominid Evolutionary trends

Answer 5

Directional change in a character state, or set of character states resulting in a significant change through time

Question 6

Evolutionary trends examples

Answer 6

1. Relative size of cerebral cortex
2. Mobility of the digits
3. Prognathism + dentition
4. Locomotion - Adaps to bipedalism + quadrupedalism

Question 7

Relative size opf cerebral cortex

Answer 7

Cerebrum responsible for complex functions - vison, memory, reasoning + malipulative ability. Larger the cortex more accurate visual + tactile perception

Question 8

Number of cerebral convolutions increased

Answer 8

Permits greater surface area of cortex - effects on development.

Question 9

Relative size of cerebral cortex

Answer 9

Average increase in cerebrum in particular the cerebral cortex - frontal lobe

Question 10

Mobility of digits

Answer 10

Primates are pentadactyl (5 digits per limb). Hihg mobile due to arboreal - living in ttrees.

Question 11

Evolutionary trends - digits

Answer 11

Increasing ability to mnove digits independantly of one another - most evolved = thumb - independent and opposable.

Question 12

Power Grip

Answer 12

Is carrying or grasping task where fingers flex towards palm - most forceful grip

Question 13

Precision Grip

Answer 13

Object pinched between thumb and fingers - fine motor skills

Question 14

HUman Lacking opposable big toe

Answer 14

Dont live in trees, no need to grip branches - uses to balance

Question 15

Prognathism

Answer 15

Projecting lower jar or chin. Human jaw is smaller than apes - better centre of gravity

Question 16

Dentition

Answer 16

Dental arch - Humans are parabolic + teeth are similar in height. Apes have parllel sides + large canine teeth.

Question 17

Dentition trend

Answer 17

Towards smaller more uniform teeth and more rounded parabolic shape

Question 18

Locomotion

Answer 18

Adaptations and bipedalism and Quadrupedalism

Question 19

Upright stance

Answer 19

Walk upright with a standing gait - humans require modified muscle/skeletal structure

Question 20

Postural adaptations

Answer 20

Position of foramen magnum, curvature of spine, pelvis shape, carrying angle of femur, knee structure, foot structure

Question 21

Position of Foramen Magnum

Answer 21

Large hole in base of skull - humans centred, apes further back.

Question 22

Central foramen magnum benifits (humans only)

Answer 22

Enables skull to balance ontop of verebral column - require less neck muscles

Human jaw is smaller - allows kull to balance, aproix same weight on either side

Question 23

Curvature of spine

Answer 23

Non humans have a single curved (c shape) spine - body tilts forward. Centre of grav. chest level. HUmans have S shaped spine - centre of grav. runs straiught through head and spine

Question 24

Pelvis shape

Answer 24

Human = Shorter and broader. Allows for larger buttock muscles to attach. Allows fumar to attach further appart Apes = long and narrow.

Question 25

Carrying Angle

Answer 25

Hip joint directly under body. Allows weight to be transfered to legs. Converge towards knees (not direcly verticle). Allows weight distribution to remain close to body when walking

Question 26

Knee structue

Answer 26

Weight of body transmitted to outside of femur to knee.

Question 27

Foot structure

Answer 27

No opposable toe. Longitudinal arch and Transverse Arch

Question 28

Muscle tone

Answer 28

Continuois and passive contraction of muscles

Question 29

3 species of Australopithecines

Answer 29

Afarensis, Africanus, Paranthropus Robustus

Question 30

Australopithecus Afarensis

Answer 30

4-3 million years ago. 1-1.2 metres tall, 25-30 kg. LUCY. SMall brain, nomadic, herbivores, no tools

Question 31

Australopithecus Africanus

Answer 31

3-2.5 million years ago, 1.3m, slightly larger brain, no tools, nomadic, diet similar to chimps

Question 32

Paranthropus Robustus

Answer 32

2-1.5 million years ago, sagital crest to anchor muscles, alrger brain, 1.5m tall, pebble tools, nomadic shelters, herbibores.

Question 33

Homo Habilis

Answer 33

2.5-1.5 million years ago. 650-750 cc. Travels for food, Teepee shelters. Boine marrow, small animals, fruits. First to make tools. Not specific

Question 34

Homo Erectus - Upright man

Answer 34

1.5-250000 years ago. 850-1200cc, sometimes used caves as shelters. Required a lot of energy - meat and protien. Acheulean tools. Earliest evidence of campfire

Question 35

Acheulian tools

Answer 35

Tear shaped tools - hand axes. More sophisticated than oldowan tools

Question 36

Campfire Uses

Answer 36

Keep away predators, give warmth + light, extend daylight activities, cooking, hunting animals

Question 37

Homeo Neanderthalensis

Answer 37

200,000-35,000 years ago. Brain capacity: 1500cc. Shelter - used caves or constructed out of wood, tusks and skins. Food - plant food decreases, meat increases. Sophisticated stone tools. First to show variety. First humans to wear clothes

Question 38

Homeo Sapiens - Wise man

Answer 38

300,000 to present. Brain capacity - 1300cc. Lived in shelters, produced own food. variety of animal + plant food. Made smaller, more complex tools. Fish hooks, bows and arrows. Bone and Ivory and antler tools

Question 39

Paleolithic tools

Answer 39

Aurignacian, solutrean, magdaleanian.

Question 40

Aurignacian tools

Answer 40

43-26 thousand years. long thin flakes have been removed. antler and bone used occasionally

Question 41

Solutrean rools

Answer 41

22-19 thousand years, sophisticated retouch by pressure flaking on flint that has been heat treated to be more workable

Question 42

Magdalenian tools

Answer 42

18-12 thousand years ago. Bone and antler over stone. Using a burin (chisel). collection of needles, barbed spear points, spear throwers and range of tools.

Question 43

Tools trend

Answer 43

More evolved, more chips and smaller chips taken out.

Question 44

Other culture - Homeo sapiens

Answer 44

Exchanged resources over wide areas. Created music, art, personal adornment, ritual complex symbolic world.