Humanity’s Place in Evolutionand

Evolution’s Place in Humanity

By: Merritt Goodman, JoAnna Piscitello, Richard Robinson, Aaron McKinney,

Elizabeth Jasperse

The Gossiping The Gossiping ApeApe

By:By:Richard RobinsonRichard Robinson

Humans are a very social creatures.Humans are a very social creatures.

As a society we form everything from As a society we form everything from nations to tribes to clubs/organizationnations to tribes to clubs/organization

The History of the African The History of the African GuessGuess

In the 1860s Darwin began comparing humans In the 1860s Darwin began comparing humans to great apes.to great apes.

From this comparison, Darwin noticed a close From this comparison, Darwin noticed a close resemblance between the two anatomies.resemblance between the two anatomies.

This led Darwin to his “African Guess” in 1871.This led Darwin to his “African Guess” in 1871.

Evolution Stages (cont.)Evolution Stages (cont.) Stage 1: pushed the ancestors out of the Stage 1: pushed the ancestors out of the

forest and onto the African savannas (5 forest and onto the African savannas (5 million years ago)million years ago)

Stage 2: Invention of the first stone tools Stage 2: Invention of the first stone tools (2.5 million years ago)(2.5 million years ago)

Stage 3: Massive hand axes were being Stage 3: Massive hand axes were being constructed (1.5 million years ago)constructed (1.5 million years ago)

Stage 4: Mastery of fire and formation of Stage 4: Mastery of fire and formation of spears and other tools (.5 million years spears and other tools (.5 million years ago)ago)

Stage 5: Cave paintings, jewelry, more Stage 5: Cave paintings, jewelry, more cultural activities (50,000 years ago)cultural activities (50,000 years ago)

Wandering EvolutionWandering Evolution As our ancestors As our ancestors

moved through these moved through these transitions, they transitions, they began to change began to change habitats.habitats.

As the habitats As the habitats changed, the way we changed, the way we moved adapted as did moved adapted as did our diets.our diets.

These changes also These changes also affected the affected the anatomy of the anatomy of the hominids.hominids.

Wandering (cont.)Wandering (cont.) About 2.5 million years ago, About 2.5 million years ago,

the first known the first known homohomo appeared.appeared. these homos were the first these homos were the first

to have features like to have features like opposable thumbs and big opposable thumbs and big brainsbrains

the first homo had a 50% the first homo had a 50% larger brain than the larger brain than the hominids, relative to their hominids, relative to their body sizebody size

At this point all traces of tree At this point all traces of tree climbing were gone. climbing were gone.

This This homohomo is known as is known as Homo Homo ergasterergaster and is the first and is the first warrant the title: human beingwarrant the title: human being

Evolving a Theory of Evolving a Theory of MindMind

Studies show that chimps have an Studies show that chimps have an understanding of some basic facts.understanding of some basic facts.

These studies also show that the These studies also show that the common ancestor of humans and common ancestor of humans and chimps could not understand that chimps could not understand that they all had brains.they all had brains.

As the habitat changed, bigger social As the habitat changed, bigger social groups began forming.groups began forming.

PassionsPassions

Some scientists suggest that the Some scientists suggest that the most basic behavior of hominids is most basic behavior of hominids is the ability to find a matethe ability to find a mate

Even a more select group believes Even a more select group believes that we are still ruled by the same that we are still ruled by the same behaviors todaybehaviors today

Not So Happily Ever Not So Happily Ever AfterAfter

A male– many offspring; A male– many offspring; a female is limiteda female is limited

As a result certain As a result certain qualities are soughtqualities are sought

According to David Buss, According to David Buss, UT psychologist, women UT psychologist, women prefer older men and prefer older men and men prefer younger men prefer younger women (Zimmer 278)women (Zimmer 278)

Ian Penton Voak of St Ian Penton Voak of St Andrews Univ. did a face Andrews Univ. did a face test to find which type is test to find which type is more attractive to more attractive to womenwomen

Are You Cheating On Me?Are You Cheating On Me?

No obvious signal that lets people know No obvious signal that lets people know that their mate is cheatingthat their mate is cheating

The thought of sexual betrayal makes a The thought of sexual betrayal makes a man’s heart beat 5 extra times a man’s heart beat 5 extra times a minutes (equivalent to 3 cups of coffee)minutes (equivalent to 3 cups of coffee)

As hominid bands expanded, their As hominid bands expanded, their complexity grew as wellcomplexity grew as well GroomingGrooming

Language is not a product of Language is not a product of evolutionevolution

Simply another way to express our Simply another way to express our alliances with one anotheralliances with one another

Toward LanguageToward Language

The Dawn of Us

In the Beginning…• 4.5 billion years ago• 3.85 billion years ago• 250 million years ago• 600,000 years ago common ancestor

of human species evolved• Between 200,000-100,000-biologically

modern humans evolved in Africa • 50,000 years ago-left Africa and

replaced all other human species.

Old Theory of Evolution • Claims that modern human evolution began a

million years ago.• A single human species, homo erectus, lived in

Africa and spread throughout the world.• Different regions continued to mate with one

another so that no one group fragmented into another species.

• They evolved distinguished characteristics in relation to climate and eventually become modern humans within their particular region.

New Theory of Evolution

Homo Erectus NeanderthalsVS.

-Two distinct species neither was the ancestor of the Homo Sapiens.

-After a proposal that modern humans actually evolved out of African immigrants and that the three groups were actually distinct species, Allan Wilson analyzed mitochondrial DNA to determine different lineages.

-Wilson discovers Africa is the source of the common ancestor of living humans.

-“Mitochondrial Eve”-common African ancestor estimated somewhere in the neighborhood of 200,000 years old.

-Scientists began formulating theory called “Out of Africa”

“Out of Africa”• As Homo spread out of Africa, it evolved into many distinct

species that didn’t breed with one another.

• Homo erectus-Asia Homo neanderthalensis- Europe and Near East

• While these species spread, Homo sapiens begin to evolve from older hominids back in Africa.

• Homo sapiens then began to spread to Asia and Europe.

• All other human species become extinct and homo sapiens survive.

Cultural Evolution• Something occurs, possibly population boom, that causes

homo sapiens to invent modern tools and art, more advanced than that of the other homo species. (Brain Change)

• When Homo sapiens spread to the Homo erectus, the resident hominids may have pulled back into the inland jungles to find refuge.

• Culture continues to evolve. For example: language, airplanes, music, mathematics, cooking, technology.

• Because people are spreading and mixing, it may be very hard for natural selection to produce much change. Evolution in modern humans has slowed drastically.

• Zimmer discusses the possibility of computers evolving an intelligence like our own and perhaps even a consciousness.