Hominidae

The first mammals evolved from mammal-like reptiles at the end of the triassic period. Therapsids, or mammal-like reptiles, is an order of reptiles that lived in the Permian and Triassic Periods before going extinct in the mid Jurassic Period. It is difficult for scientist to determine when the divide between therapsids and mammals occurred. Early mammals had small, mouselike forms. Very few were large, because dinosaurs were the unquestioned dominant land animals on earth. The ecological niche…

To study and learn about our human ancestors from the past, one must look no further than the Gorilla gorilla gorilla, which we share almost 96 percent of DNA with. (Scally, A et al., 2012) These once abundant giants who used to inhabit large areas in Central Africa and surrounding countries, are now on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, illegal hunting for bush meat and diseases. To prevent the worst outcome from happening, it is essential that we as humans create sustainable…

Over the last couple of decades the finding of numbers of important fossil discoveries in Africa which were bipedal primates. Biped; terrestrial locomotion where an organism moves by two feet also considers bipedalism. That bipedal locomotion sets modern humans apart from all other living primates. The origin of bipedalism has been argued about by how it was the adoption of early hominin fossil record (that was found) had adaptive shifts locomotion over the series of time. Which illustrate the…

ancestors belonging to the genus of Australopithecus. It is said that they had emerged in the areas of eastern Africa, specifically in the regions of Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia. This species, however, were not apes but rather a creature in the Hominidae family, that had human like features. “They would seem short, hairy, and limited with intelligence. They stood something over one meter tall, weighed 25 to 55 kilograms, and had a brain size of about 500 cubic meters” (Bentley and Ziegler,…

There are many definitions of the word story, but one definition in particular fits the topic of human origins perfectly; a narration of the events in the life of a person or the existence of a thing, or such events as a subject for narration. The story of human origin and the creation of human nature is a difficult story to tell, created by miniscule pieces of evidence and guesswork through paleoanthropology, and advances in the ability to look at and study DNA. Exactly where we came from and…

Marquez & Kafka Society is a very cruel and unusual place, we focus more on having then being. Human beings aren 't respectful, we don 't care about others feelings we think of only our self’s. If you aren 't “normal” or what society thinks you should be its even more cruel to you, because we are a deceitful species, not thinking of others in anyway just ourselves. When reading Kafkas story, “A Hunger Artist” and Marquez’s story, “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings” they don 't give you a very…

Animal Testing is a very big controversy on if it should be happening or it should not be happening. There are many pros and cons to either side. One side is saying that animal testing is bad and should not be happening. To certain animals that is human beings love and do not want this to happen too. The other side says it is good for our human race and should be happening to the animals because it helps us live longer as a race. For many it is just a moral issue to the topic and many people are…

When I went to the Smithsonian Human Origins Exhibit, it made me realize how much more I am informed about human evolution compared to most of the people at the exhibit. One thing was I saw on one the displays that Neanderthals were classified as part of the Homo sapiens lineage, which is not true. During our lecture you already told us that Neanderthals are not part of the lineage. Neanderthals are consider more like sisters than one of us. Also one of the speakers was saying how Homo…

Views on Humanity Over time, the definition of the term “human” has been an on-going paradox. Many scientist have studied on the topic of humanity and what truly defines a human being. As of now there are no fully established facts on either side. In order to identify a “ human” one has to determine the functions of the mind, which creates unique living styles, and broadens questioning of what is humanity. Research has come up with three basic arguments to identify a human based off of the…

Philosophical Quote Analysis: “Never Pass Up The Chance To Say "I Love You" Because Tomorrow Isn 't Promised.” This philosophical analysis will examine an important quote related to the argument of “seizing the moment”, which means to seize the day or to seize the present tense: “Never pass up the chance to say "I love you" because tomorrow isn 't promised.” This statement is meant to define the importance of telling a person that they love them before they it is too late, especially in the…