Homo Sapiens: Evolution: Human And Human Evolution

1349 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Apes and humans similarities and characteristics

What is evolution? Evolution is a theory in which over a large periodical amount of time living things change physical features or behaviors to become the way they are. Now the big question is did humans magically appear on Earth? The answer is no. Humans evolved in a very slow manner over a large amount of time. Scientists have proven human physical and behavioral characteristics evolved from ape-like ancestors. Evidence has also shown that these characteristics took approximately six millions years to become the way they are now. Modern human beings are scientifically known as Homo Sapiens. There are similarities that can easily be observed in physical and genetic traits thus proving humans and apes have some sort of relations. The great apes of Africa, such as chimpanzees and gorillas, share a common ancestor with modern day humans that dates back to six to eight million years ago. …show more content…

Chimpanzees and gorillas only exceeds half that capacity. This is an adaptation known as encephalization, which initiated with a species known as Homo Habilis. Encephalization is the increment in brain mass compared to an animal’s body mass ratio. The Homo Habilis species generally had a 600cm brain capacity which was slightly larger than a chimpanzee. The word “habilis” originates from latin and is translated to handy or skillful. These generally advanced species were the first to associate with stone tools. They were considered to be the direct ancestor of modern day humans however fossil discoveries have proven Homo Habilis had ape-like body proportions. There is a lot of controversy amongst scientists regarding its placement in the human category rather than the australopithecus. Australopithecus is translated to southern ape. These ape species came before early humans and displayed strong ape-like features and had little brain capacity. They looked as if they were an ape and human

Show More
Related

  • Evolution of Human Characteristics

    794 Words  | 2 Pages

    Human characteristics have evolved all throughout history and have been manipulated on a global scale through the use of science and technology. Genetic modification is one such process in which contemporary biotechnology techniques are employed to develop specific human characteristics. Despite this, there are a countless number of negative issues related with genetic modification including discrimination, ethical issues and corruption. Hence, genetic modification should not be used to enhance human characteristics.

    Read More

  • Neanderthals and Homo sapiens

    2241 Words  | 5 Pages

    There is evidence to suggest that Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens had coexisted for approximately 35-40,000 years, (Fagan 2010) from around 60,000 years ago to 25,000 years ago when they finally went extinct (Gibbon 2001). Anthropologists are still uncertain what the cause of their extinction was. This paper will analyze three main theories of Neanderthal extinction. The first theory is the competition theory, which claims that the Homo sapiens and Neanderthals had to compete for resources, ultimately leading to their demise. The second theory I will discuss is the climate change theory, which claims that Homo sapiens lived while Neanderthals died because they were better adapted to the climate. The last theory I will discuss is the possible “extinction through absorption” theory which claims the Neanderthal interbred with the Homo sapiens and became one species. In this paper I will also be comparing the technologies, and diets of both species. In addition, I will look at the anatomic relation between the Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, how their body shape and size differed, and if this gave any advantage to one side or the other. My thesis for this paper will state that Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis had co-existed but the disappearance of the Neanderthal in Eurasia is due to the appearance of the more culturally advanced and genetically superior Homo sapiens and the failure of the Neanderthal to adapt in an evolving climate.

    Read More

  • Why Evolution is True, by Jerry A. Coyne

    2497 Words  | 5 Pages

    What is evolution? Evolution in modern terms is fairly easy to understand. Evolution is the theory that life on earth began with a single celled organism that lived more that 3.5 billion years ago that slowly evolved into many diverse creatures over time. When you break down this theory into sections you get 6 factors: evolution, gradualism, speciation, common ancestry, natural selection and nonselective mechanisms of evolutionary change.

    Read More

  • Examining Evolution from the Perspective of Biological and Cultural Anthropology

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    Evolution can be defined differently within each sub-field of anthropology. However, biological anthropology is defined as: the sub-field of anthropology that studies humans as a biological species (Park, 2008). With that said, a biological anthropologist would study evolution using things such as: genetics, fossil records, bio-diversity, primatology, or human ecology. In particular (albeit rare) cases, some anthropologists have been known to study monkeys and apes because their genes are more closely related to humans than that of any other species. According to fossil records, it has been shown that there were a bewildering number of hominid species over the last 6-7 million years (Willoughby, 2005). However, Homo sapiens is the sole hominid on the planet, and has been for about the last 25,000 years (Tattersall, 2000). This type of fossil research is beneficial to the study of evolution since it has provided tangible evidence that evolution has happened, is currently...

    Read More

  • Government Corruption In The Progressive Era

    652 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many businesses and factories hired children because they were easier to exploit; they could be paid less for more work in dangerous conditions. Plus, their small size made many children idea for working with small parts or fitting into small spaces. Children as young as four could be found working in factories, though most were between eight and twelve. Despite the economic gains made by the business that employed them, many children suffered in the workplace. The industrial setting caused many health problems for the children that, if they lived long enough, they would carry with them for the rest of their lives. Children were also more likely to face accidents in the workplace, often caused by fatigue, and many were seriously injured or killed. Despite efforts by reformers to regulate child labor, it wasn’t until the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 that children under 14 were prohibited from

    Read More

  • How Humans Developed: The Homo Sapiens

    1823 Words  | 4 Pages

    “The scientific study of how humans developed did not begin until the 1800s in Europe. Until that time, people relied on religious explanations of how humans came into existence. Starting in the 1500s a scientific revolution began to sweep Europe. Thinkers started using scientific methods and experiments to try to better understand the world and the creatures living in it. Eventually these methods were turned to the question of human origins” (The Nature Of Human Origins, 1). Earth made it possible for species to change over time because Ancient Earth provides ability to plenty of time.The Homo Sapien a is very complex creature. The species started off very simple by living in caves and surviving with little food and then later evolved into a species that were able to do many more complex things. The first species was Sahelanthropus tchadensis They were one of the most simple humans in that time period and on. They had very small skulls compared to Homo Sapiens today and their motor skills were just the same. We have evolved and changed for the better both mentally and physically. The Evolution of Homo Sapiens started off simple, such as the Neanderthals, and now we are the most advanced species to ever walk the planet so far.

    Read More

  • Homo Habilis: The Evolution Of Human Evolution

    1916 Words  | 4 Pages

    Approximately two million years, exceedingly evolved Australopithecines made their priority to impact their environment. They made tools and started to use resources. The age of Homo Habilis has begun. They are the earliest known members of the Homo genus. They were found in Africa. Homo Habilis brains were 50% larger than Australopithecus, they were taller, hairless face, and flatter nostrils. They became omnivores. They were the first to discover that meat was edible. Scavenging for dead meat was added to their diets. This is known because of their teeth. Homo Habilis had developed mature incisors, which are used for shredding chunks of meat. Wisdom teeth were also developed for chewing meat. The most fundamental development in Homo Habilis is language. Containing larger cerebral cortex than their ancestors, they developed the abilities in thinking, reasoning, and memory. They also hunted, which was a group activity because it requires precision, accuracy, planning, and silence. As a result, they probably developed hand signals and facial expressions which granted meaning for use in hunting parties; this could have been the first symbolic communication. As the Homo Habilis grasped more of this communications the signals became more complex. As a result, hands signals were developed to represent abstract concepts like good or evil. Furthermore, the hand signals organized and unified with sounds to produce a simplistic form of language. This form of communication along with tools and resources have become the foundations of an advanced culture. Homo Habilis were unendingly bipedal, thus, losing their ability to climb. Their brow ridge and the beginnings of the chin were gone. Homo Habilis were about four feet fall on average. The most complex toll made by them was the chopper, which later advanced into the axe. Homo Habilis ruled over Africa until about 1.6 million years, when Homo Erectus surfaced,

    Read More

  • Evolution of the Human Diet

    3413 Words  | 7 Pages

    The members of the Homo genus possess a combination of unique features that distinguish them from other related species. At the time that each respective species was alive, they were able to walk upright on two legs, use their large brains for the benefit of their species, and could thrive in many geographically and climatically diverse areas of the world. One of the most mysterious quandaries in science is how the lineage of the Homo genus became so different from their primate relatives. Bipedalism, brain size, and location diversity all have a common link that may explain this difference – dietary evolution allowed humans to adapt to their surroundings, and in turn, become a more advanced species. The Homo diet evolved in relation to food availability and nutritional necessity. With the ability to maintain a proper diet, the species of the Homo genus were able to flourish and advance toward the development of modern Homo sapiens.

    Read More

  • Evolution: Evolution And The Theory Of Evolution

    559 Words  | 2 Pages

    The thought of evolution is filled with theories, ideas and beliefs. The definition of evolution is rather simple. According to Jerry A. Coyle, evolution is “the change in the inherited characteristics of biological populations over successive generations (2). Evolution gives rise to diversity when it comes to the hierarchy of life otherwise known as biological organization. Many people find the topic of evolution to be troubling and very confusing. Throughout history churches have preached that evolution is atheistic and a sin if even thought about. Famous scientist, Charles Darwin, is said to really be the first to formulate debated theory of evolution by the means of natural selection. Eventually in the 20th century genetics was compounded with Charles Darwin’s theories of evolution. Even today scientists continue to study different aspects of the theory of evolution.

    Read More

  • The History of Hominid Evolution

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    These species have been named Australopithicus, robust australopithecines, Orrorin tugenensis, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, neanderthal, and Homo sapiens. These early hominids and modern humans really show how the features and behaviors have really changed over time. Austalopithicus, meaning “southern ape” was the first specimen to be found. The Austalopithicus was found in Africa and was known to have lived from 4.2 to around 1.0 million years ago (Standford 251). They had a small body like an ape that would weigh approximately 64 to around 100 pounds.

    Read More

  • Human Evolution

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    Evolution is the complexity of processes by which living organisms established on earth and have been expanded and modified through theorized changes in form and function. Human evolution is the biological and cultural development of the species Homo sapiens sapiens, or human beings. Humans evolved from apes because of their similarities. This can be shown in the evidence that humans had a decrease in the size of the face and teeth that evolved. Early humans are classified in ten different types of families.

    Read More

  • Essay On Homo Erectus

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    1.9 million years ago, Homo Habilis of East Africa had evolved into an entirely new species known as Homo erectus. Homo erectus directly translates to "Upright man" and for good reason. One of largest anatomical advancements of Homo erectus was their arm and leg bones which were very similar in shape and proportions to that of modern day humans. "Their legs would have made Homo erectus efficient long distance runners like modern humans."(Dennis). Along with their longer more developed legs, Homo erectus's leg were also hairless which allowed them to evaporate sweat and thus be more efficient at not overheating. This advantage allowed Homo erectus to chase down four legged mammals to the point of heat exhaustion and thus drastically increase the efficiency their hunting tactics. Another change in the legs of Homo erectus was their slightly more narrow pelvises. This forced the size of a child’s head to be smaller at birth and undergo most of its development during childhood. (Dennis)

    Read More

  • We Are One Species Essay

    1283 Words  | 3 Pages

    Evolution is a systematic mechanism through which the modern day has evolved from his ancestors. The Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is based on the premise that we all

    Read More

  • History Of Human Evolution Essay

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    The origin of human beings has to trace back to the chimps which lived in millions of years ago. About six to eight million years ago, people’s ancestor split from chimp (Pickrell, 2006). In The Origin of Species, which is published by Darwin in 1859, African apes were thought as the ancestor of human beings. And in the next

    Read More

  • The Process of Evolution

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    Without evolution, and the constant ever changing environment, the complexity of living organisms would not be as it is. Evolution is defined as a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations (8).Scientists believe in the theory of evolution. This belief is based on scientific evidence that corroborates the theory of evolution. In Figure 1 the pictures of the skulls depict the sequence of the evolution of Homo-sapiens. As the figure shows, man has evolved from our common ancestor that is shared by homo-sapiens. The change of diet of homo-sapiens over time has thought to contribute to the change in jaw structure and overall skull shape.

    Read More

More about Homo Sapiens: Evolution: Human And Human Evolution

Open Document