BIOL108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 35: Treeshrew, Hominidae, Sister Group

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Biology (Biological Sciences)
• Course: BIOL108
• Professor: Lien Luong

Document Summary

Characteristics include: thumb and toe widely separated from other digits (allows grasping) flat nails rather than narrow claws on some digits large brain, short jaws pentadactyl appendages. Limbs with opposable first digits allows for a powerful group. Hominids (great ape), have relatively large brains orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, humans. Cook- easier to chew & faster to digest more calories -> larger brains fewer jaw muscles - more room for brain smaller teeth (molars) Biol 108 page 2 smaller teeth (molars) problem: increased risks of childbirth (recall: narrow pelvis for upright movement) solution: smaller, more dependent babies. Evolved from h. erectus: heidelbergensis diverged into two lineages (based on fossil and dna evidence): Ancestors of modern day humans led africa ~ 60,000 ya. Evolution (all forms) -> variation on a basic form (diversity) "nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution" - theodosius.