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APS – Unit 1

APS – Unit 1. Human Evolution - Anthropology. 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.

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APS – Unit 1

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  1. APS – Unit 1 Human Evolution - Anthropology

  2. Evolutionary Theory • Charles Darwin 1809-1882 • Published Origin of the Species (1859) • Galapagos Islands – observed different species of finches • Controversial !

  3. Darwin’s Theory – Natural Selection • Heritability: Organisms inherit characteristics from their parents • Variation: there is a lot of variation within a species • Environmental Fitness: Those traits that allow an individual to survive to reproductive age – to pass on to offspring

  4. An example of Variation Darwin’s Finches

  5. 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) Peppered Moth UK – example of natural selection

  6. Physical Anthropologists Look at: 1. Fossil, bone, stone remains (using dating techniques) 2. Microscopic analysis – pollen, scratches on bone 3. Experiments – flake stone techniques Evolution – evidence

  7. Human Evolution

  8. hominid: is any member of the biological family Hominidae (the "great apes"), including the humans, chimps, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans Human Evolution

  9. Hominids

  10. Bipedalism – to habitually walk on two legs. Humans only primate with this adaptation What had to happen for us to stand up straight? Habitual Bipedalism

  11. 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

  12. Free hands for carrying Can walk longer distances Can have a continuous good view of surroundings Advantages of being bipedal

  13. Disadvantages of being bipedal • Highly dangerous birthing process • Offspring very dependent and weak because the skull must grow outside of the womb

  14. Hominids and Brain Size • Humans have the largest brain for our body mass compared to other mammals

  15. Hominid (human), Primate differences:

  16. Hominid (human), Primate differences

  17. Hominid (human), Primate differences

  18. Hominid (human), Primate differences

  19. 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 Humanity and our Variations

  20. 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) Skin Colour - Legitimate Explanations for Human Variation

  21. Darker skin provides better protection from UV rays Darker skin is found in areas closer to the equator where there is more and stronger sunlight (environmental Fitness) Skin colour (variation) Skin Colour - Legitimate Explanations for Human Variation

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