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20 Cards in this Set

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What is a hominin? What two characteristics set it apart?
A fossil specimen more closely related to modern humans than to modern chimps
-bipedalism
-reduced canine teeth
Which primitive Miocene ape is thought to be the last living ancestor of the hominoids?
Preconsul (~19 mya)
What are the steps that create a fossil?
Organism must become buried in the sediment, bone or teeth must mineralize, surrounding sediment must harden
By what percentage does human DNA differ from that of chimps?
~ 1.6%
What are some skeletal adaptations for bipedalism compared to ape anatomy?
Human spine is S-shaped and exits from the center, pelvis is bowl-shaped, femurs angle inward, knees support more weight
Ape spine exits from rear of skull, only slight curve, apie pelvis is longer/narrow, femurs angle out, knees hold less weight
What are the two forms of australopithecines? Examples?
Gracile (lightly built)-- A. afarensis (East Africa), A. africanus (South Africa)
Robust (ruggedly built)-- A. boisei (East Africa), A. robustus (South Africa)
Who was Lucy?
Australopithecus afarensis, bipedal, 3.2 mya, 3.5 ft tall/105 lbs.
Who was Laetoli?
3.6 mya, East Africa
What were the Ardipithecus ramidus? Characteristics?
The first undisputed biped (4.4 mya) with an ape-sized brain and grasping big toe
woodland/forest environment, less male aggression? (smaller canines)
What is the order of the hominid phylogeny beginning at 7 mya?
Sahelanthropus tchadensis (7 mya in Chad), Orrorin tugenensis (6 mya in E. Africa), Ardipithecus ramidus(~5mya), A. afarensis (~3mya), A. africanus (~2.5 mya), A. robustus/A. boisei (~2mya)
What are some theories that have been used to explain bipedalism as an adaptation?
Bipedalism reduces the surface area exposed to the radiation from the sun and leads to more wind exposure (standing upright=taller, so more wind)
How has the cost of transport in terms of O2 and body mass varied across terrestrial species?
See graph--quadrupedal and bipedal chimps use significantly more O2 than humans (especially when it comes to running)
What are the 2 main trends in the genus Homo?
Reduced face, jaws, and teeth in addition to an enlarged brain (encephalization)
What are traits of Homo habilis? Why so significant?
~2.3-1.5 mya, 600-800 cc brain volume, slight increase in body size
First stone tool use--called Oldowan technology--made cores and flakes on animal bones
What are traits of Homo erectus/ergaster? Why significant?
~1.8-0.6 mya, 1000 cc brain volume, increase in body size (5.5-6 ft tall), longer legs relative to arms, small teeth, Acheulean technology--more spear-like
Erectus first to migrate out of Africa through Europe & Asia--ergaster was from Africa
What is the order of species in human evolution?
Carpilestes simpsoni, Darwineus micelae, Aegypithecus zeuxis, Proconsul Africanus,**start here: Ardepithecus Ramidus ("Ardy,"4.4 mya, one of first bipedal, more human facial features), Australepithecus afarensis (lucy & leatoli), H. habilus--> H. ergaster/erectus--> H. heidelbergensis--> H. Neanderthalsis (in Europe) AND H. sapiens (in Africa)
What are traits of the Homo neanderthalensis? What happened to them?
Europe/Western Asia, 400,000-30,000 ya, 5'3"-5'6", 110-140 lbs., heavily muscular, big 1450 cc brains, yet limited cultural and technological sophistication
Outcompeted by Cro-Magnons (anatomically modern humans)
What are traits of Homo sapiens? How did their technological sophistication improve?
Origin: ~200,000-100,000 ya in Africa, migrated out ~60,000 ya and mostly replaced existing hominids
Bone and antler tools, art/musical instruments, grave goods, capacity for INNOVATION!
Why is mitochondrial DNA so significant? What does it reveal in terms of modern humans?
Accumulated mutations 10x faster than nuclear DNA, only inherited through the mother
Humans have 1/10th the amount of variation as chimps...greatest amount of variation found in Africa--origin
Why did modern humans out-compete neanderthals?
Superior cultural transmission of knowledge/innovation (?), language (changes in vocal tract anatomy & brain organization), extension of lifespan, increased population density