human evolution

Question 1

what 5 things make humans human?

Answer 1

• bipedal locomotion
• derived dentition and jaw musculature
• larger brains
• slower development
• language and culture

Question 2

why was bipedal locomotion adapted?

Answer 2

less solar radiation to keep cool, efficient for harvesting

Question 3

where did bipedal locomotion appear?

Answer 3

in australopithecines

Question 4

what human characteristics did australopithecines have?

Answer 4

derived dentition and jaw musculature and bipedal locomotion

Question 5

how much smaller is an australopithecine’s brain?

Answer 5

it is 400cubic centimeters

Question 6

were australopithecines present during the Pleistocene?

Answer 6

they were present for part of it

Question 7

what tools did australopithecines use?

Answer 7

oldowan stone tools (chipped rock to make sharp edge)

Question 8

what are the 4 families in the genus homo?

Answer 8

homo ergaster/erectus, homo heidelbergensis, homo neanderthalensis, homo sapiens

Question 9

what is the paleolithic?

Answer 9

the stone age

Question 10

what was significant about the paleolithic?

Answer 10

contained 95% of human technology

Question 11

when was the genus homo present?

Answer 11

paleolithic to end of pleistocene

Question 12

what were the impacts of the colder climate on homo ergaster?

Answer 12

isolations of populations and adaptations to the changing environment

Question 13

how is homo ergaster different to australopithecines?

Answer 13

slower development, larger brain and body, more complex tools

Question 14

how is homo heidelbergensis different to homo ergaster?

Answer 14

larger brain and more complex tools

Question 15

what is homo neanderthalensis known as?

Answer 15

archaic humans

Question 16

how are neanderthals different to humans?

Answer 16

shorter, stockier, larger brain

Question 17

how are neanderthals similar to humans?

Answer 17

similar development, may have had language, hunted, cared for sick

Question 18

where were neanderthals evolving when homo sapiens were emerging in africa?

Answer 18

europe

Question 19

when did homo sapiens evolve in africa?

Answer 19

190-90ka

Question 20

when did anatomically modern humans develop?

Answer 20

200-100ka

Question 21

when did modern human behaviour develop?

Answer 21

upper paleolithic 50-40ka

Question 22

when were homo sapiens the only hominin left?

Answer 22

by 30ka

Question 23

how were neanderthals wiped out?

Answer 23

competition, not conflict

Question 24

what were the implications of neanderthals interbreeding with homo sapiens?

Answer 24

1.5-2.6% non-african DNA is from interbreeding

Question 25

what health issue is caused by neanderthal DNA?

Answer 25

respiratory failure risk, linked to gene cluster on chromosome 3 carried by 50% south asians and 16% europeans

Question 26

where were homo floresiensis living?

Answer 26

indonesia until 14ka

Question 27

who did homo floresiensis share features with?

Answer 27

homo erectus, may be deformed humans

Question 28

where were denisovans discovered?

Answer 28

siberia in 2010

Question 29

when did Denisovans live?

Answer 29

41ka

Question 30

what are denisovans?

Answer 30

subspecies of homo sapiens

Question 31

what did dawson do in the piltdown man hoax (1912)?

Answer 31

'out of england' bias, used medieval skull, orangutang jaw & chimp teeth

Question 32

what is the multi-regional hypothesis?

Answer 32

different populations of humans evolved in asia, europe, africa and asutralasia, with gene flow between them

Question 33

when did humans evolve according to multi-regional hypothesis?

Answer 33

2mya from homo erectus

Question 34

what does multi-regional hypothesis say about races?

Answer 34

they are different from each other

Question 35

when did humans evolve according to 'out of africa' hypothesis?

Answer 35

200ka

Question 36

what is the 'out of africa' hypothesis?

Answer 36

1st wave of migration from northern africa to europe 130ka 2nd wave of migration from southern africa to whole world

Question 37

how much variation do modern humans have?

Answer 37

very little compared to apes

Question 38

what implications on races does the lack of variation in modern humans have?

Answer 38

- can't naturally divide humans into small number of distinct races - members of different races not different in important ways - racial differences are not due to biological differences

Question 39

what effect does migration have on populations?

Answer 39

population bottlenecks which decrease genetic diversity

Question 40

where is there more genetic variation?

Answer 40

africa, which is consistent with african origins

Question 41

what is the expensive-tissue hypothesis?

Answer 41

men eat meat because it requires a smaller gut, allowing more energy for a bigger brain

Question 42

why are older men better hunters?

Answer 42

they have more skill and experience

Question 43

how do most foraging societies divide labour?

Answer 43

women forage and men hunt

Question 44

why is hunting a high risk strategy?

Answer 44

1 in 5 chance of catching prey on any day

Question 45

how do chimps and humans differ in food share habits?

Answer 45

chimps are self-sufficient whereas food share is extensive in humans

Question 46

what did food share and labour divisions favour?

Answer 46

reduced dimorphism

Question 47

what did foraging favour?

Answer 47

bigger brains and slower development