Homo Sapiens Research Paper

Humans evolve from apelike ancestors approximately five million years ago. Most closely related to us are our non-human primates such as African great apes, chimpanzees and gorillas. Scientific studies reveal that more similar traits are being share by human and our non-human primates compared to other animals. As human evolve from our apelike ancestors, changes in our DNA differentiate ourselves from our non-human primate. Even though we evolve from our non-human ancestors and share similar anatomical structures and characteristics, we are unique in our own ways. We possess specific qualities and abilities that differ from other species. There is a substantial gap between non-human primate and fully developed human. Here we will discuss

What evidence shows the changing from the early hominids to the modern humans? Throughout the human evolution body parts like legs and harms have changed for the better. By the early hominids being biped, meaning they are able to stand and even walk on two feet, it helped them to be able to do more things like getting around more and help with their tool making and hunting. A lot of the fossils discovered were found in the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, which contained many different lakes and small rivers. For many years researchers have been finding new species. These species have been named Australopithicus, robust australopithecines , Orrorin tugenensis, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, neanderthal, and Homo sapiens. These early

Foreheads began to develop in the later members of the species, most likely as a result of an expanding frontal lobe (that part of the brain that we believe controls many of our higher functions such as reasoning, foresight and concentration) (Johanson and Shreeve 1989). Homo erectus had a lighter jaw than did Homo Habilis (Johanson and Shreeve 1989).

We share almost 99 percent of our genetic material with chimpanzees. Yet we have several traits that are very different. Two legged walking, or bipedalism seems to be one of the earliest of the major hominine characteristics to have evolved. To

Primates have four distinct tooth types, which include incisors, canines, premolars, and molars (Larsen, 2008). Dental formulas have been developed by anthropologists with

In the Article “Redrawing Humanity’s Family Tree” by John Noble Wilford, describes how two different skulls challenge the theories of human origins and migrations. The Central African skull, that dates back to nearly 7 million years ago, was assigned to a whole new genus and species because of its apelike and evolved hominid species. The 1.75-million-year-old Georgian skull shows evidence that the first hominids may have been intercontinental travelers who set motion the migrations that occupied the whole planet. Finally a third skull was found that is the same age and shares a resemblance but, the size of the skull suggests that the brain was smaller than expected for H. erectus.

Anthropoids also include apes and homos, which differentiate even further from New and Old World monkeys in terms of detention. Apes, australopithecines, and homos still have 2 premolars and 3 molars, however the cusps on the molars are what is different. Homo, australopithecines, and apes have the “characteristic Y-5 pattern” (Lavenda and Schultz, pg.114), which indicates 5 cusp molars. The bilophodont pattern is a characteristic of Old World

One of the main reasons why we are so interested in the other primates is that by looking at them we can obtain some ideas of what our ancestor must have been like a few millions years ago. Even though, we are not descended from any modern-type monkey or ape, our lineage does appear to have gone through stages in which we were a medium-sized, reasonably intelligent creature with good binocular vision, hands that were good at manipulation and the ability to climb trees. An evolutionary trend in primates involves the development of offspring both before and after birth and their integration into complex social systems. Another trend in primate evolution has been toward a more elaborate brain. In addition to brain size and gestation periods,

Even though Neanderthals have many differences compared to Homo sapiens, they should be considered humans because of their ability to reason and have a conscience. Through scientific research, we have learned that Neanderthals organized the bodies of their dead and they buried their dead as well through. Through this act of sympathy for their fallen counterparts, we can see the compassion and sympathy shown from the Neanderthals’s concionse and ability to reason. From this act of burial we can see that from the U.N.’s decleration of human rights Neantherthals should be considered human.

Bipedalism is being able to walk on two feet. Bipedalism separated the hominids from the four legged apes. It has allowed us to travel far distances, distances that four legged species couldn’t even travel.Hominids had a much better advantage when it came to traveling on rocky and grassy terrains. Also, walking upright made fleeing from predators much easier, because on four legs an animal is most likely to die. There were also drawbacks to for instance a female hominids pelvis is narrow, so delivering a baby would be very painful and life threatening to both child and mother. Other than the advantages and disadvantages of bipedalism, these are the key things that

Superficially, anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals have much in common. Current data suggest Neanderthals had language, religion, and shared select genes with Homo-sapiens. The standing question is whether or not these similarities are a product of gene flow. This paper will be an extensive overview of the most substantial evidence that proves or disproves any genetic and anatomical relationships between anatomically modern humans and Neanderthals.

The Ice age caused a huge change to the environment which affected the Homo Erectus, who then adapted to the change. 2.6 million years ago when Ice age started the Homo Erectus found the “Garden of Eden”, which was where the last Homo Erectus survived. Surviving at the Garden of Eden made the life of the Homo Erectus much easier. The weather was better than other places and there were plenty of food enough for everyone. Tools were also one of the most important parts for survival.

Homo sapiens, or “consciously thinking human”, evolved 25,000 years ago forming an unprecedented presence in the environment and the efficient exploitation of the environment. Physiological structural advantages aided the Homo sapiens in taking the upper hand over other species. A fundamental difference in the brain structure of the Homo sapiens was a well-developed frontal region where conscious and reflective thought takes place. Intelligence is the sharp edge of survival for these hominids because physically they are not endowed with great strength or natural means of defense which battle natural selection in the animal kingdom. Change in physiognomy such as upright walking posture with opposable thumbs freed the hands from the task of locomotion and was instead applied for the creation of higher sophisticated tools. Development of language allowed for communication enhancing cooperation and a sense of cohesion as well as paving the way for collective learning which is the drive for creating complexity. Homo sapiens used superior intelligence, sophisticated tools, and language to exploit the natural world more efficiently than any other species

As a member of the species Austalopithecus afarensis, the emergence of the species known as Homo sapiens was intriguing yet for the most part obscure. Nevertheless, our observations of their morphology have revealed that we share stunning evolutionary connections. Features including bipedalism, cranial size and shape, dental structure, and vocal capabilities, when cross examined between Homo sapiens and Australopithecus afarensis suggest in fact Homo sapiens are a product of our evolutionary history. Therefore, we can determine which of our current characteristics will be of evolutionary significance in the future.

Human evolution according to research started over 6 million years ago. The outcome of the evolution process is the current human beings. Scientific studies have revealed over the years a remarkable affinity between the chimpanzees/Apes and human beings. Even though this reality is not a definitive prove that human beings evolved from apes, it does show that the human beings are in one way or another related to other primates. Scientists suppose that the humans and the primates shared a common ancestor. The subject of what makes humans what they are and their origin has been the exclusive purpose leading to many scientific studies globally (Coolidge & Wynn, 2011). Studies believe that Africa was the origin of evolution millions of years ago. Fossil remains have been discovered in different parts of Africa as well as other regions of the world. Different hominins have been discovered around the world in the last 1 million years. Thus, the different discoveries have led to comparisons between the various species of hominins to clarify on their similarities as well as differences. This essay seeks to explain whether they were distinctively different species or regional versions of the same species.