HUMAN BIO-
CULTURAL AND
SOCIAL EVOLUTION
MACROEVOLUTION AND
FORMATION OF NEW SPECIES
OMACROEVOLUTION focuses on the
formation of new species and on the
evolutionary relationship between
groups of species.
OSPECIES – the term is often defined as
a population capable of inter-breeding –
of producing viable, fertile offspring.
OSPECIATION (formation of new
species) through the process of
adaptive change to the environment
as proposed in Darwin’s Origin of
Species are generally considered to
occur at a slow rate. Speciation
happens as organisms becomes more
adapted to their environment.
OSpeciation can also take place quite
rapidly. For instance, a genetic
mutation involving a key regulatory
gene can lead to the formation of a
new body plan
OIf a new body is adaptive, an organism
will maintain its new form during long
periods of time rather than promote
change because of natural selection.
Speciation.mp4
ONATURAL SELECTION
Oimagine a population of beetles
NATURAL SELECTION
Oimagine a population of beetles
1) There is variation in traits.
For example, some beetles are green and some are
brown.
2) There is differential reproduction.
Since the environment can't support unlimited
population growth, not all individuals get to
reproduce to their full potential. In this example,
green beetles tend to get eaten by birds and
survive to reproduce less often than brown beetles
do.
NATURAL
SELECTION
imagine a population of beetles
3) There is heredity.
The surviving brown beetles have brown baby
beetles because this trait has a genetic basis.
4) End result:
The more advantageous trait, brown coloration,
which allows the beetle to have more offspring,
becomes more common in the population. If this
process continues, eventually, all individuals in the
population will be brown.
EARLY HUMANS
O Larger brains and bipedal locomotion
constitute the most striking differences
between contemporary people and our
closest primate relatives
O Tracing the roots of human evolution is
done by determining whether a fossilized
hominoid is bipedal. (curves of the spine,
shape of the pelvis and shape of the foot
bones)
EARLY HUMANS
OAs far as research can tell, the
earliest humans hailed from
the australopithecines which
were bipedals but had small
brain size in proportion to
their bodies.
EARLY HUMANS
OIt is theorized that from one
species of Australopithecus, the
Homo Habilis evolved.
OCompared to australopithecines,
the Homo Habilis had smaller
teeth and larger brain.
EARLY HUMANS
OThis implies that Homo Habilis
most probably exercised higher
abilities to learn and were better
at processing information than
the australopithecines.
CHARACTERISTI
CS OF HOMINIDS
BIPEDALISM
O Is a characteristics of hominids/homo that can also be
seen today being exhibited by modern human beings.
O Bipedalism means that hominids can walk and stand
using two legs.
O This trait is important to the evolution of mankind
because it allowed hominids to conserve energy that
was used in traversing grasslands in Africa.
O This ability also allowed hominids to explore the
vastness of African savannah making them scattered
all through out the Africa.
DENTITION
O The dental trait of hominid is much closer to
human canine.
O The jaws of hominids are comparably weaker
compared to other apes.
O This kind of dentition also suggest that the diet
of hominids was much the same with the kind
of diet modern humans can eat.
LARGER CRANIAL
CAPACITY
O The thing that separates human from all apes is its
large cranial capacity.
O CRANIAL CAPACITY –is the estimate for brain
size to expand
O This is actually the vest evidence scientist have in
proving that hominids are a part of the evolution of
mankind.
O Because of large cranial capacity, a hominid is
presumed to be intelligent and can even have a
primitive culture of its own.
LONG CHILDHOOD
DEPENDENCY
O Once a hominid is born, it is fragile and weak. It is a
helpless creature, without the proper nursing of an
intelligent parent; these new born hominids will not
have a chance to survive in their harsh environment.
After an offspring is born, it grows in a dramatic
fashion just like how human babies of today are.
USE OF TOOLS AND
LANGUAGE
O Most of the hominids were associated to the use of
tools.
O It can be clearly seen from the physical structure of
hominids that they are relatively weaker compared to
the other apes.
O This could be a disadvantage for hominids and must be
countered by a trait that will level the battle ground.
O Their larger cranial capacity suggests that they are
capable of using tools in order to be better equipped in
the battle field when they are competing with other
apes and creature.
EVOLUTION OF
HUMAN
ADAPTATION
Scientist believe in different theories
that can explain the evolution of human
hominids into modern day human
through the process of natural selection.
These theories contain different scenarios
that can explain how hominids adapted to
their environment and how this kind of
adaptation lead natural selection to work
and become the impetus for them to
evolve into a more suitable specie.
SEED-EATING THEORY
O This theory was developed by Clifford Jolly in
the 1970’s.
O He claimed that the trait of hominids to sit
together on grasslands and pick up seeds led to
vital evolutionary sparks in the evolution of man.
O Picking up seeds in the African Savannah
requires very good muscle coordination in order
to control the fingertips.
SEED-EATING THEORY
O Changes in the environment forced the hominids
to try eating meat. Because of these events,
hominids developed a complex social structure.
Males went out to hunt for food while the
females stayed at home to nurse their young.
O This kind of set-up became a precursor to the
evolution of hominids into more complex specie
which is more adaptable to almost all the
environment.
HUNTING-SCAVENGING
THEORY
O This theory suggests that hominids are scavengers.
They observed how stronger predators preyed on
weaker animals. Once the hunt was done and the
prey was down, hominids wait for the moment when
predators left the scene and slowly approached the
dead carcass to scavenge what was left of the animal.
O The dentition of hominids were not adapted to killing
prey but was designed for tearing and eating during
times when they scavenge.
HUNTING THEORY
O When hominids hunt, they begun to develop a
complex social behavior. One of the behavior needed
in order to successfully hunt is COOPERATION.
O Hominids were known to be social creatures and as
social creatures some traits and behaviors were
necessary in order to function efficiently as a group.
The development of social skills probably evolved
from this way of life.
GATHERING THEORY
O The hominids were thought to be gatherers of
food. Bipedalism had the advantage of freeing
the hands. As the females nursed their young,
they also gathered food to help maintain their
group. With this, the females taught their
young how to gather food and use basic tools.
PLASTICITY
O Plasticity is the ability to adapt to wide ranging
situations and survive despite various natural
circumstances change every now and then.
O Hominids had this trait that was why they thrived and
continued to survive for million of years.
O They were well suited to the environment and were
successful in passing their genes to the next
generation and were able to evolve and continued
surviving.
