Human Evolution Human Ancestors SOS Bill Nye Human

Human Evolution

Human Ancestors SOS Bill Nye: Human Ancestory Video (9 min) Journal Entry: Write a 4 -5 sentence response to the following question: What did Paleontologist learn from “Lucy” and the “Laetoli footprints”? . Cite evidence for each.

I. Human Evolution A. How do Paleontologist Arrange Fossils? Ø Fossils are arranged by age, structural similarities, and genetic data (DNA).

B. Hominids n 1. Hominid humanlike, bipedal primate. n n A. Fossil records and DNA evidence suggest that hominids first evolved in Africa, then spread throughout the world 2. Hominids branched off from a common primate ancestor @ 4 -6 million years ago. Becoming Human: Anatomy 2: Walking Tall

II. Australopithecines n n Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy) 3. 9 -3. 0 million years ago Discovered in 1974 by Donald Johanson. The oldest most complete hominid fossil found to date. She was named after the Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” Becoming Human: Evidence 1. Hadar; 2. Lu

II. Australopithecines n Closer to a primitive, apelike ancestor. 1) They were bipedal. 2) They were shorter than modern humans. 3) Had brains similar to the size of chimpanzees.

III. Genus Homo A. Homo neanderthalensis n n n Becoming Human: Lineages 1: Cave Man n 1. 300, 000 – 30, 000 years ago 2. Habitat ranged from: Europe, Middle East, to Western Asia. 3. Coexisted with early Homo sapiens (modern humans) 4. Might have interbreed with modern humans.

B. Homo sapiens (Modern Humans) n n 1. Modern humans evolved out of Africa 100, 000 years ago. 2. Humans are the only hominid that exists on the planet today.

Lineages -Paleoanthropologist have conflicting viewpoints human lineage. Becoming Human