BIOLOGY 1M03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Anatomically Modern Human, Neanderthal Extinction, Denisovan
11 Dec 2015
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Document Summary
Recent out of africa hypothesis vs. multiregional hypothesis. Differences exist in the interpretation of recent human evolution. Proposes that modern humans dispersed out of africa, and replaced populations of h. erectus an neanderthals without interbreeding. Proposes that evolution of modern humans has being occurring since early humans (h. erectus) left africa 2 mya. Continuous exchange of genes among populations in different regions united this species as it evolved into modern humans. Supported by primitive characteristics in some modern races (e. g. shovel shaped incisors in asians, prognathic face and large cheeks of australian aborigines) But these features could be convergently evolved or simply a polymorphic ancestral feature (for example, ben"s sagittal keel and occipital torus does not prove he is h. erectus, just homoplasous) Changes in global climate altered the distribution of ecosystems and the corridors for hominin migration. Interglacial period (covered in forest, woodlands, etc) vs. glacial period (covered in ice, tundra, etc) Homo ergaster: east africa, parts of asia.
