Human Evolution
Common ancestor
Differentiate us
Tracing and history
African Fossils
‘Out of Africa” hypothesis
DNA evolution
,All primates share common ancestor
• James Brunet (1774) - humans related to
orangutans
• Class – order – sub order – family – genus – species
• Mammalia – Primates – Anthropoidea – hominidea –
homo - sapien
• Homo sapiens belonged to many different species in
the past – homo habilis, homo eretus, homo
neanderthalensis.
, Evidence for a common ancestor
• Show presence of arboreal life (life in trees)
• 1 - Upper limbs – long, shallow sockets, ball and
socket join in shoulder, scapulae not attached to
vertebral column.
• Rotate hand 180˚ by using wrist.
• Fingertips instead of claws – added sensitivity = better
precision, working with tools
• Opposable thumbs – used as power grip (hammer),
and precision grip (pencil)
Common ancestor
Differentiate us
Tracing and history
African Fossils
‘Out of Africa” hypothesis
DNA evolution
,All primates share common ancestor
• James Brunet (1774) - humans related to
orangutans
• Class – order – sub order – family – genus – species
• Mammalia – Primates – Anthropoidea – hominidea –
homo - sapien
• Homo sapiens belonged to many different species in
the past – homo habilis, homo eretus, homo
neanderthalensis.
, Evidence for a common ancestor
• Show presence of arboreal life (life in trees)
• 1 - Upper limbs – long, shallow sockets, ball and
socket join in shoulder, scapulae not attached to
vertebral column.
• Rotate hand 180˚ by using wrist.
• Fingertips instead of claws – added sensitivity = better
precision, working with tools
• Opposable thumbs – used as power grip (hammer),
and precision grip (pencil)
