Click to edit the title text format HSP3U – Unit 1 Anthropology- Human Evolution
Jan 02, 2016
Evolutionary Theory
•Charles Darwin 1809-1882
•Published Origin of the Species (1859)
•Galapagos Islands – observed different species of finches
•Controversial !
Darwin’s Theory – Natural Selection
•Heritability: Organisms inherit characteristics from their parents
2.Variation: there is a lot of variation within a species
2.Environmental Fitness: Those traits that allow an individual to survive to reproductive age – to pass on to offspring
Peppered Moth UK – example of natural selection
•White and Black moths (Variation)
•Food source for birds
•Before Industrial Rev. most moths – white - better camouflaged against white lichen (Enviromental Fitness)
•Industrial Rev – coal dust turned environment black, now black moths better camouflaged. Black moths now surviving to reproduce and pass their colour to next generation (Heritability)
•Now, most moths are black (natural selection)
Evolution – evidence
•Physical Anthropologists•Look at:
1. Fossil, bone, stone remains (using dating techniques)2. Microscopic analysis –
pollen, scratches on bone
3. Experiments – flake stone techniques
Human Evolution
•hominid: is any member of the biological family Hominidae (the "great apes"), including the humans, chimps, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans
Habitual Bipedalism
•Bipedalism – to habitually walk on two legs. Humans only primate with this adaptation
•What had to happen for us to stand up straight?
Bipedalism continued
•Structural changes required for us to walk upright:
•S-shaped spine•Double arched foot•Pelvis – shorter and wider•More gluteus muscles•Fewer head / neck muscles – therefore a bigger brain
Advantages of being bipedal
•Free hands for carrying
•Can walk longer distances
•Can have a continuous good view of surroundings
Disadvantages of being bipedal
•Highly dangerous birthing process
•Offspring very dependent and weak because the skull must grow outside of the womb
Hominid (human), Primate differences:
Pair Bonding AND Group LivingHumans are the only primates to have both social characteristics simultaneously
Dominance HierarchiesSilverbacks and alpha males in a groupGroomingRelated to the hierarchiesStress release
Social
structures
Hominids / Humans
Primates
Hominid (human), Primate differences
No estrus cycleChoice in when to mate
Estrus cycle (in heat)No choice of when to mateWho gets to mate when ties into dominance and grooming hierarchies
Reproduction
Hominids / Humans
Primates
Hominid (human), Primate differences
Longest infant dependency period of all primates
Long infant dependency compared to other mammalsImportant in learning survival skills and culture
Mother – Infant relationship
Hominids / Humans
Primates
Hominid (human), Primate differences
Speech centre in the brain
Facial displays, call, touch
Communication
Hominids / Humans
Primates
Humanity and our Variations
•Our bodies are essentially 50 000 years old.
•Now culture, not physical evolution enables us to adapt very quickly to a changing environment
•Race - Cultural construct – does not physically exist
Skin Colour - Legitimate Explanations for Human Variation
•Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D (necessary for healthy bones)
•Light skin absorbs vitamin D and burns more easily than darker skin Paler skin is found in areas further from the equator where there is less sunlight (environmental Fitness)
•Skin colour (variation)