Human Evolution
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Transcript of Human Evolution
Hominid Evolution
Human Evolution
Human Evolution
Objectives• Identify the
characteristics that all primates share.
• Describe the major evolutionary groups of primates.
Benchmarks• SC.912.L15.1*• SC.912.L.14.26*
Essential Question
• Of all the adaptations we learned in class, evaluate which one provides the greatest fitness to primates.
Mind Streaming: How would we distinguish these organisms? (10 min)
How is this organism related to the others?
WHAT IS A PRIMATE? A primate is a mammal
that has:1. Flexible fingers and
toes to grip2. Large thumbs and toes3. Ability to circulate
arms4. Binocular Vision5. Well developed
cerebellum and cerebrum
WHY IS BINOCULAR VISION IMPORTANT?
Binocular Vision: The ability to combine visual images from both eyes, providing depth and a 3-dimensional view of the world.
WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH A MORE COMPLEX BRAIN?
Cerebellum: The “thinking part” of the brain is large and complex.
CHECK POINT:What can you do with a more complex brain?
WHEN DID PRIMATES EVOLVE?• Humans and primates evolved from a
common ancestor that lived 65 million years ago.
Primate Evolution
WHAT ARE ANTHROPOIDS AND HOMINIDS?• The anthropoids, or human like primates, include
monkeys, great apes, and humans. • Great apes are also called hominoids, and include
gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans. • Recent DNA analyses confirm that chimpanzees are the
most closely related to humans.
CHECK POINT
1. Circle the Anthropoid Group2. Circle the Hominoid Group
How did Hominines Evolve?
• The skull, neck, spinal column, hip bones, and leg bones of early hominine species changed shape in ways that enabled later species to walk upright.
• The evolution of bipedal, or two-footed, locomotion freed both hands to use tools.
• Hominines also evolved much larger brains.
ANSWER: Essential Question
• Of all the adaptations we learned in class, evaluate which one provides the greatest fitness to primates.