Essays on Homo Sapiens

Human beings are unique in their quest to understand the origin of life, and the urge rationalize nature and the world that surrounds them. We have developed various disciplines to better understand the natural world around us (Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology) and ourselves (Psychology, Physiology etc.). Anthropology is a discipline that tries to understand what it means to be human by looking at biological, evolutionary, cultural, and linguistic aspects. The word “Anthropology” is derived from Greek “Anthropos” meaning human and “Logos” meaning word(Lewis, Jurmain, & Kilgore, 2012). There are four major subfields of anthropology viz., biological, archeological, linguistic and ...

The gradual change in human structure, genetic composition, and anatomy over a period of time is called human evolution. The process of evolution dates back to six million years ago when the ancestors of modern human beings underwent simultaneous and gradual body changes. These changes were passed from one generation to another coupled with modifications. Modifications in genetic structure come by as a result of adaptations. Organisms usually undergo adaptations to help them reproduce or survive certain conditions in their habitat. Individuals inherit the most desirable characteristics from their ancestors that enable them survive and reproduce successfully. Those who ...

The fossil record of hominids provides evidence for evolutionary processes that ultimately defined and shaped humanity. The record documents the emergence of bipedalism, the origin of the genus Homo, the initial utilization of tools made of stone, the gradual increase in brain size, the appearance of the present-day humans or Homo sapiens, and the development of advanced tools and cultural values. According to the National Research Council (2010), the evolutionary events described in geological records coincided with significant changes in Eurasian and African climate. Hence, they raise the possibility that past environmental features controlled or affected major junctures in ...

Abrigo do Lagar Velho is a rock-shelter in the Portuguese valley that is famous for the stratigraphic range of the Upper Paleolithic human occupations within that area.

Absolute dating technique (chronometric dating) refers to the process of revealing the age on a certain time scale.

Acclimatization is the response of an organism to a gradual change in environmental conditions by adjusting and sustaining within these changes. Acheulian (Acheulean) is a tool made of stone that had round cutting edges and was used during the Lower Palaeolithic era.

Adolescent growth spurt refers to the sharp growth in height and weight rates t during adolescence.

Aegyptopithecus refers to the extinct primate of the Oligocene Period, resembling a modern-day lemur, whose fossils were found in Egypt. Afar Triangle is the region that is part of the ...

Describe which general fossil primate groups appear and radiate during the following geological epochs: Eocene, Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene. For each of the geological epochs, identify the general primate group that first appears and radiates during that epoch. In addition, give the time range in millions of years for each epoch and provide at least one example of a specific primate genus and/ or species that is representative of each general primate group. 2. List and briefly describe at least five elements of the post-cranial anatomy found in humans, but not in apes, that facilitate efficient bipedal locomotion. Provide specific ...

Human beings all belong to the species Homo sapiens. However, both Neanderthals and modern humans are most likely the homo heidelbergensis descendants. Homo sapiens are believed to have evolved in Africa nearly 200,000 years ago and gradually migrated north, through the Middle East, to Europe and Asia. A skull 160,000 years old was discovered at the Herto site area of Ethiopia (Anthro.palomar.edu, 2010). Other more advanced transitional forms have been discovered at Laetoli in Tanzania and are 120,000 years old. About 115,000 years ago, some early modern humans (Homo sapiens) ago widened their range to ...

The species Paranthropus boisei was estimated to have existed 1.1 million years ago and is believed to belong to a certain era of the human evolution that spanned several years ago, but scientists were keen to point out that they did not eventually lead to human evolution, or rather to the evolution of Homo Sapiens, but they share a huge genetic relationship with the Homo sapiens (Marsh 18). There are numerous characteristics of Paranthropus boisei that would be synonymous to that of the Homo sapiens that would lead one to believe that the genetic characteristics that depict similarities would ...

Floresiensis, Denisovans, Neanderthals, and modern Homo sapiens are the four types of hominins. However, modern Homo sapiens are the only species left. There are many contributing factors that lead to the extinction of the three other species 20,000 years ago however I believe the most important aspect that lead to Homo sapiens survival over the others to be diet. There are slight diet differences between the species that I believe correlate to survival. I think that diet plays a role in the survival of the fittest idea as well. Homo sapiens were the fittest species and survived because ...

A Previously unknown species of hominins, Homo Naledi was discovered as recently as 2013, in the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star cave system. Researchers found an extensive collection of fossils, belonging to 15 individuals of the same species. When examined, researchers found that the individuals belonged to a previously unknown species, because their morphology was different than that of other known species of primates. In their description, Berger et al. found that the hominin has unique cranial morphology, although closely related to other species of hominins, human-like adaptations of the hand and wrist, and humanlike foot and limb ...

Did Human Bipedalism Evolve from a Knuckle-walking Ape Ancestor Did Human Bipedalism Evolve from a Knuckle-walking Ape Ancestor

Introduction

The narratives of human evolution are one of the oft-told scientific stories whenever the topic of the origin of man crops up. However, this topic is also one of the thorniest and most highly contentious. There are major disagreements in the manner in which man first came to be, and every interpretation of almost every new find on the matter will be sure to find opposition among scholars on the field (Harcourt-Smith & Aiello, 2004). While there are numerous causes of disputes ...

Question 1

Cultural leveling describes how people from different cultures approach each other and try to reach common grounds regarding communication and interaction. This process is evident in Lee’s ethnographic fieldwork. Coming from white society, the researcher exhibited arrogance and considered himself superior, both intellectually and culturally, to the !Kung bushmen. He did this by extending to or cutting off the supply of tobacco from the Bushmen since he was the only source of the commodity in 1000 square miles (Lee). Besides, he neither shared his food with the Bushmen nor participated in their food-gathering activities. For this reason, the ...