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Hominid Studies
How does the science of hominid study
depend on fossilised remains, genetic
evidence (especially mitochondrial DNA
passed only through mothers line) and
archaeology? What are hominids?
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Hominid - all modern and extinct great apes i.e. modern humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans plus all their ancestors
Hominin- modern humans and their extinct ancestors
Source of evidence of human evolution:
The main sources of knowledge about the human evolutionary process have come from:
1. The fossil record i.e. of early hominins. Fossils were the original source of evidence
2. Genetic evidence, beginning with DNA Sequencing, particularly with the analysis of maternal mitochondrial DNA. The latters become very important particularly
determining the origin of the various races.
3. Archaeological (cultural) evidence i.e. the study of the material remains of things that were created, used or changed by humans, e.g. stone tools, fire hearths, shell
beads, orchre artefacts
The classification of hominids remains a matter of scientific debate: it is hard to classify the species of hominid remains because they are often so fragmentary.
-analysing the teeth and cranial capacity are the main ways of classifying various species
- currently there is an attempt to find DNA in order to perform a DNA analysis and determine the species relationship with other hominids=not yielded much yet, technology
needs to improve so it can be seen what genetic information could reveal about hominid classification.
-with all the uncertainty theres considerable controversy with regard to the classification of hominid’s. E.g. some researchers suggest that the fossil record of what have been
considered different Homo species could actually be variations on a single species, Homo erectus
Hominids are bipedal animals in the fossil record showing a mixture of ape-like and human-like features
Anatomical (physical) and genetic similarities show that the modern human species, Homo sapiens, very closely resembles the African apes i.e. chimpanzees, bonobos and
gorillas. The two groups evolved from a common ancestor that is though to have existed about 6 million years ago.
*they will help trace the evolution of humans
*the differences are largely related to the evolution of habitual bipedalism in humans. It has resulted in many differences between the skeletons of humans and African
apes. These differences can be seen in fossil hominids.
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Hominid Studies
Discuss fossil evidence?
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1. Fossil Evidence
The most common fossils are teeth and lower jaws, and the facial and upper cranial bones of the skull. Skulls are almost never found intact but can be reconstructed from
fragments. Femurs are the next common, while remains of the feet, hands, pelvis or spine are very rare.
Why do we never find an intact skull?
Environmental disasters, predators
By studying fossilised bones, scientists learn about the physical appearance and how they changed over time. Bone size, shape and markings left by muscles show how
hominins moved around and held tools.
How does the study of evolution benefit us?
We can better understand our ancestry.
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Hominid Studies
How are the anatomical differences
bet ween apes and humans?
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Qwhatare
the doesitprove
andhow
differences change
primates graprain
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