Evolutionary Development Biology – Lecture 6 – Origin of Homo
sapiens, migrations and hybridisations
View of evolution of H. sapiens
1. Gradual (geleidelijke) origin of H. sapiens in Africa afters split with Heidelberg
Man (550-750 ka BP)
H. sapiens recent species
H. sapiens are sister species of Neanderthal and Denisova Man
H. sapiens descendant (afstammeling) of Heidelberg Man
o Heidelberg Man has robust traits similar to H.ergaster and Neanderthal.
Distribution in Africa (H.sapiens) and Europa (Neanderthal)
2. The origin of H. sapiens (200 ka BP) indicate a bottleneck (this view conflicts
with the genetic data for the origin of H. sapiens)
H. sapiens descendant of H. ergaster
H. sapiens evolve via anagensis (only one species present at a time)
Where did H. sapiens originate?
1. Out of Africa
H. sapiens originated in Africa and replaced all
other ancient species
All humans descend from African ancestor
2. Multiregional evolution (nobody believes in this!)
H. sapiens evolved at several placed
Asian descend from Asian H. erectus, European
descend from European H. erectus
Genetic differences between Africans, Europeans
and Asians derive from the dispersal (verspreiding)
of H. erectus
Support for multiregional evolution
Dali skull found in Xi’an in China (200 ka BP old) – they
think it is a H. sapiens but it is 200 ka BP years old so if it
is H. sapiens than they cannot originate in Africa because
how can it be in China then in the same time? So, this is
support that H. sapiens originate partly in China not in
Africa
Collection of teeth in China – they belong to H. sapiens but they are 80 to 120
ka BP years old. H. sapiens originate in Africa 200 ka BP years ago. So, this is
support that H. sapiens originate partly in China and not in Africa because
they cannot migrate that fast.
Support for out of Africa
Mitochondrial DNA coalescence (Black Eve (mother of mDNA is black),
mitochondrial Eve)
Mitochondrial genome contains a limited number of genes
MtDNA has prokaryote properties
mtDNA inherited only via the female lineage
Cann isolated mtDNA from placentas. Every
DNA sample was assigned to an ethic group
sapiens, migrations and hybridisations
View of evolution of H. sapiens
1. Gradual (geleidelijke) origin of H. sapiens in Africa afters split with Heidelberg
Man (550-750 ka BP)
H. sapiens recent species
H. sapiens are sister species of Neanderthal and Denisova Man
H. sapiens descendant (afstammeling) of Heidelberg Man
o Heidelberg Man has robust traits similar to H.ergaster and Neanderthal.
Distribution in Africa (H.sapiens) and Europa (Neanderthal)
2. The origin of H. sapiens (200 ka BP) indicate a bottleneck (this view conflicts
with the genetic data for the origin of H. sapiens)
H. sapiens descendant of H. ergaster
H. sapiens evolve via anagensis (only one species present at a time)
Where did H. sapiens originate?
1. Out of Africa
H. sapiens originated in Africa and replaced all
other ancient species
All humans descend from African ancestor
2. Multiregional evolution (nobody believes in this!)
H. sapiens evolved at several placed
Asian descend from Asian H. erectus, European
descend from European H. erectus
Genetic differences between Africans, Europeans
and Asians derive from the dispersal (verspreiding)
of H. erectus
Support for multiregional evolution
Dali skull found in Xi’an in China (200 ka BP old) – they
think it is a H. sapiens but it is 200 ka BP years old so if it
is H. sapiens than they cannot originate in Africa because
how can it be in China then in the same time? So, this is
support that H. sapiens originate partly in China not in
Africa
Collection of teeth in China – they belong to H. sapiens but they are 80 to 120
ka BP years old. H. sapiens originate in Africa 200 ka BP years ago. So, this is
support that H. sapiens originate partly in China and not in Africa because
they cannot migrate that fast.
Support for out of Africa
Mitochondrial DNA coalescence (Black Eve (mother of mDNA is black),
mitochondrial Eve)
Mitochondrial genome contains a limited number of genes
MtDNA has prokaryote properties
mtDNA inherited only via the female lineage
Cann isolated mtDNA from placentas. Every
DNA sample was assigned to an ethic group
