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  • Introduction to Human Evolution

3/4 view of an early human skull

Human evolution

Human evolution is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence shows that the physical and behavioral traits shared by all people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately six million years.

One of the earliest defining human traits, bipedalism -- the ability to walk on two legs -- evolved over 4 million years ago. Other important human characteristics -- such as a large and complex brain, the ability to make and use tools, and the capacity for language -- developed more recently. Many advanced traits -- including complex symbolic expression, art, and elaborate cultural diversity -- emerged mainly during the past 100,000 years.

Humans are primates. Physical and genetic similarities show that the modern human species, Homo sapiens , has a very close relationship to another group of primate species, the apes. Humans and the great apes (large apes) of Africa -- chimpanzees (including bonobos, or so-called “pygmy chimpanzees”) and gorillas -- share a common ancestor that lived between 8 and 6 million years ago. Humans first evolved in Africa, and much of human evolution occurred on that continent. The fossils of early humans who lived between 6 and 2 million years ago come entirely from Africa.

Most scientists currently recognize some 15 to 20 different species of early humans. Scientists do not all agree, however, about how these species are related or which ones simply died out. Many early human species -- certainly the majority of them – left no living descendants. Scientists also debate over how to identify and classify particular species of early humans, and about what factors influenced the evolution and extinction of each species.

Early humans first migrated out of Africa into Asia probably between 2 million and 1.8 million years ago. They entered Europe somewhat later, between 1.5 million and 1 million years. Species of modern humans populated many parts of the world much later. For instance, people first came to Australia probably within the past 60,000 years and to the Americas within the past 30,000 years or so. The beginnings of agriculture and the rise of the first civilizations occurred within the past 12,000 years.

Paleoanthropology

Paleoanthropology is the scientific study of human evolution. Paleoanthropology is a subfield of anthropology, the study of human culture, society, and biology. The field involves an understanding of the similarities and differences between humans and other species in their genes, body form, physiology, and behavior. Paleoanthropologists search for the roots of human physical traits and behavior. They seek to discover how evolution has shaped the potentials, tendencies, and limitations of all people. For many people, paleoanthropology is an exciting scientific field because it investigates the origin, over millions of years, of the universal and defining traits of our species. However, some people find the concept of human evolution troubling because it can seem not to fit with religious and other traditional beliefs about how people, other living things, and the world came to be. Nevertheless, many people have come to reconcile their beliefs with the scientific evidence.

Early human fossils and archeological remains offer the most important clues about this ancient past. These remains include bones, tools and any other evidence (such as footprints, evidence of hearths, or butchery marks on animal bones) left by earlier people. Usually, the remains were buried and preserved naturally. They are then found either on the surface (exposed by rain, rivers, and wind erosion) or by digging in the ground. By studying fossilized bones, scientists learn about the physical appearance of earlier humans and how it changed. Bone size, shape, and markings left by muscles tell us how those predecessors moved around, held tools, and how the size of their brains changed over a long time. Archeological evidence refers to the things earlier people made and the places where scientists find them. By studying this type of evidence, archeologists can understand how early humans made and used tools and lived in their environments.

The process of evolution

The process of evolution involves a series of natural changes that cause species (populations of different organisms) to arise, adapt to the environment, and become extinct. All species or organisms have originated through the process of biological evolution. In animals that reproduce sexually, including humans, the term species refers to a group whose adult members regularly interbreed, resulting in fertile offspring -- that is, offspring themselves capable of reproducing. Scientists classify each species with a unique, two-part scientific name. In this system, modern humans are classified as Homo sapiens .

Evolution occurs when there is change in the genetic material -- the chemical molecule, DNA -- which is inherited from the parents, and especially in the proportions of different genes in a population. Genes represent the segments of DNA that provide the chemical code for producing proteins. Information contained in the DNA can change by a process known as mutation. The way particular genes are expressed – that is, how they influence the body or behavior of an organism -- can also change. Genes affect how the body and behavior of an organism develop during its life, and this is why genetically inherited characteristics can influence the likelihood of an organism’s survival and reproduction.

Evolution does not change any single individual. Instead, it changes the inherited means of growth and development that typify a population (a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular habitat). Parents pass adaptive genetic changes to their offspring, and ultimately these changes become common throughout a population. As a result, the offspring inherit those genetic characteristics that enhance their chances of survival and ability to give birth, which may work well until the environment changes. Over time, genetic change can alter a species' overall way of life, such as what it eats, how it grows, and where it can live. Human evolution took place as new genetic variations in early ancestor populations favored new abilities to adapt to environmental change and so altered the human way of life.

Dr. Rick Potts provides a video short introduction to some of the evidence for human evolution, in the form of fossils and artifacts.

  • Climate Effects on Human Evolution
  • Survival of the Adaptable
  • Human Evolution Timeline Interactive
  • 2011 Olorgesailie Dispatches
  • 2004 Olorgesailie Dispatches
  • 1999 Olorgesailie Dispatches
  • Olorgesailie Drilling Project
  • Kanam, Kenya
  • Kanjera, Kenya
  • Ol Pejeta, Kenya
  • Olorgesailie, Kenya
  • Evolution of Human Innovation
  • Adventures in the Rift Valley: Interactive
  • 'Hobbits' on Flores, Indonesia
  • Earliest Humans in China
  • Bose, China
  • Anthropocene: The Age of Humans
  • Fossil Forensics: Interactive
  • What's Hot in Human Origins?
  • Instructions
  • Carnivore Dentition
  • Ungulate Dentition
  • Primate Behavior
  • Footprints from Koobi Fora, Kenya
  • Laetoli Footprint Trails
  • Footprints from Engare Sero, Tanzania
  • Hammerstone from Majuangou, China
  • Handaxe and Tektites from Bose, China
  • Handaxe from Europe
  • Handaxe from India
  • Oldowan Tools from Lokalalei, Kenya
  • Olduvai Chopper
  • Stone Tools from Majuangou, China
  • Middle Stone Age Tools
  • Burin from Laugerie Haute & Basse, Dordogne, France
  • La Madeleine, Dordogne, France
  • Butchered Animal Bones from Gona, Ethiopia
  • Katanda Bone Harpoon Point
  • Oldest Wooden Spear
  • Punctured Horse Shoulder Blade
  • Stone Sickle Blades
  • Projectile Point
  • Oldest Pottery
  • Pottery Fragment
  • Fire-Altered Stone Tools
  • Terra Amata Shelter
  • Qafzeh: Oldest Intentional Burial
  • Assyrian Cylinder Seal
  • Blombos Ocher Plaque
  • Ishango Bone
  • Bone and Ivory Needles
  • Carved Ivory Running Lion
  • Female torso in ivory
  • Ivory Horse Figurine
  • Ivory Horse Sculpture
  • Lady of Brassempouy
  • Lion-Man Figurine
  • Willendorf Venus
  • Ancient Shell Beads
  • Carved Bone Disc
  • Cro-Magnon Shell Bead Necklace
  • Oldest Known Shell Beads
  • Ancient Flute
  • Ancient Pigments
  • Apollo 11 Plaque
  • Carved antler baton with horses
  • Geometric incised bone rectangle
  • Tata Plaque
  • Mystery Skull Interactive
  • Shanidar 3 - Neanderthal Skeleton
  • Bison Figurine
  • Carved Horse-Head Bead
  • Carved Ivory Mammoth
  • Cuneiform Clay Tablet
  • Fired Clay Bison
  • Fired Clay Venus from Dolni Vestonice
  • Lespugue Venus
  • One Species, Living Worldwide
  • Human Skin Color Variation
  • Ancient DNA and Neanderthals
  • Human Family Tree
  • Swartkrans, South Africa
  • Shanidar, Iraq
  • Walking Upright
  • Tools & Food
  • Social Life
  • Language & Symbols
  • Humans Change the World
  • Nuts and bolts classification: Arbitrary or not? (Grades 6-8)
  • Comparison of Human and Chimp Chromosomes (Grades 9-12)
  • Hominid Cranial Comparison: The "Skulls" Lab (Grades 9-12)
  • Investigating Common Descent: Formulating Explanations and Models (Grades 9-12)
  • Fossil and Migration Patterns in Early Hominids (Grades 9-12)
  • For College Students
  • Why do we get goose bumps?
  • Chickens, chimpanzees, and you - what do they have in common?
  • Grandparents are unique to humans
  • How strong are we?
  • Humans are handy!
  • Humans: the running ape
  • Our big hungry brain!
  • Our eyes say it!
  • The early human tool kit
  • The short-haired human!
  • The “Nutcracker”
  • What can lice tell us about human evolution?
  • What does gut got to do with it?
  • Why do paleoanthropologists love Lucy?
  • Why do we have wisdom teeth?
  • Human Origins Glossary
  • Teaching Evolution through Human Examples
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Recommended Books
  • Exhibit Floorplan Interactive
  • Print Floorplan PDF
  • Reconstructions of Early Humans
  • Chesterfield County Public Library
  • Orange County Library
  • Andover Public Library
  • Ephrata Public Library
  • Oelwein Public Library
  • Cedar City Public Library
  • Milpitas Library
  • Spokane County Library
  • Cottage Grove Public Library
  • Pueblo City-County Library
  • Springfield-Greene County Library
  • Peoria Public Library
  • Orion Township Public Library
  • Skokie Public Library
  • Wyckoff Free Public Library
  • Tompkins County Public Library
  • Otis Library
  • Fletcher Free Library
  • Bangor Public Library
  • Human Origins Do it Yourself Exhibit
  • Exhibit Field Trip Guide
  • Acknowledgments
  • Human Origins Program Team
  • Connie Bertka
  • Betty Holley
  • Nancy Howell
  • Lee Meadows
  • Jamie L. Jensen
  • David Orenstein
  • Michael Tenneson
  • David Haberman
  • Fred Edwords (Emeritus)
  • Elliot Dorff (Emeritus)
  • Francisca Cho (Emeritus)
  • Peter F. Ryan (Emeritus)
  • Mustansir Mir (Emeritus)
  • Randy Isaac (Emeritus)
  • Mary Evelyn Tucker (Emeritus)
  • Wentzel van Huyssteen (Emeritus)
  • Joe Watkins (Emeritus)
  • Tom Weinandy (Emeritus)
  • Leonisa Ardizzone
  • Members Thoughts on Science, Religion & Human Origins (video)
  • Science, Religion, Evolution and Creationism: Primer
  • The Evolution of Religious Belief: Seeking Deep Evolutionary Roots
  • Laboring for Science, Laboring for Souls:  Obstacles and Approaches to Teaching and Learning Evolution in the Southeastern United States
  • Public Event : Religious Audiences and the Topic of Evolution: Lessons from the Classroom (video)
  • Evolution and the Anthropocene: Science, Religion, and the Human Future
  • Imagining the Human Future: Ethics for the Anthropocene
  • Human Evolution and Religion: Questions and Conversations from the Hall of Human Origins
  • I Came from Where? Approaching the Science of Human Origins from Religious Perspectives
  • Religious Perspectives on the Science of Human Origins
  • Submit Your Response to "What Does It Mean To Be Human?"
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Submit Question
  • "Shaping Humanity: How Science, Art, and Imagination Help Us Understand Our Origins" (book by John Gurche)
  • What Does It Mean To Be Human? (book by Richard Potts and Chris Sloan)
  • Bronze Statues
  • Reconstructed Faces

Your Article Library

Human evolution: short essay on human evolution.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

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Man is a product of evolution. Therefore human evolution is intimately related to the origin of life and its development on the face of earth. It is customary to speak of evolution ‘from amoeba to Man’, as if the amoeba is the simplest form of life. But in reality, there are several organisms more primitives than amoeba, say for example viruses. The evolution from a self-replicating organic molecule to a protozoan, like amoeba, is the most complex step in evolution, which might have consumed the same extent of time from protozoan to man.

The term evolution was first applied by the English philosopher Herbert Spencer to mean the historical development of life. Since then evolution denotes a change, although the term may be defined in several ways. In the context of man, the biological evolution started with the ‘Origin of life’. In the beginning, there was nothing. The first successful formation of protoplasm initiated the life and its continuous development proceeded towards complexity to give rise different life forms of evolved type.

About 10 billion years after the formation of Universe, the earth was formed. Life on earth appeared far late, nearly three billion years ago. Of the several evolutionary problems, perhaps the origin of life is the most critical, since there is no record concerning it. Life has been characterized by the capacity of performing certain vital functional activities like metabolism, growth and reproduction. There is no ambiguity regarding this point. But how the first life came on earth is a matter of conjecture.

Ancient thinkers speculated that life originated spontaneously from inorganic components of the environment, just after the formation of earth. A series of physio-chemical processes were perhaps responsible behind this creation. Aristotle (384 BC to 322 BC) was the pioneer in this line of thought and nobody raised any voice against his speculation till seventeenth Century. But in seventeenth Century, an Italian scientist, Francesco Redi (1627 -1697) made an experiment with two pieces of meat.

One of the pieces was kept fully covered and the other piece was kept in an open place. After some days he examined both of the pieces very carefully. He noticed that, flies laid eggs on the uncovered piece of meat and so many new flies had born. But the covered piece of meat had not produced any new fly, as there was absolutely no access of flies.

Redi tried to establish the fact, that living organisms cannot be originated spontaneously from inorganic components. More or less at the same time, Leuwenhock (1632 – 1723) by studying several microorganisms like protozoa, sperm, bacteria etc. under microscope declared that the spontaneous generation was possible for the microorganisms. Later, Louis Pasteur (1822 -1895) also studied much to furnish evidences in support of spontaneous creation.

In fact, scientists of this period were perplexed in finding out how life began spontaneously as a matter of chance. Philosophers, Thinkers and Scientists all had submitted their varied thought and propositions regarding the nature and mechanism of origin of life on earth. Different religions had also put forth different concepts in this connection.

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Biology library

Course: biology library   >   unit 25.

  • Introduction to evolution and natural selection
  • Ape clarification
  • Natural selection and the owl butterfly
  • Darwin, evolution, & natural selection
  • Variation in a species
  • Natural selection and Darwin

Evidence for evolution

Key points:.

  • Anatomy. Species may share similar physical features because the feature was present in a common ancestor ( homologous structures ).
  • Molecular biology. DNA and the genetic code reflect the shared ancestry of life. DNA comparisons can show how related species are.
  • Biogeography. The global distribution of organisms and the unique features of island species reflect evolution and geological change.
  • Fossils. Fossils document the existence of now-extinct past species that are related to present-day species.
  • Direct observation. We can directly observe small-scale evolution in organisms with short lifecycles (e.g., pesticide-resistant insects).

Introduction

Evolution happens on large and small scales.

  • Macroevolution , which refers to large-scale changes that occur over extended time periods, such as the formation of new species and groups.
  • Microevolution , which refers to small-scale changes that affect just one or a few genes and happen in populations over shorter timescales.

The evidence for evolution

Anatomy and embryology, homologous features, analogous features, determining relationships from similar features, molecular biology.

  • The same genetic material (DNA)
  • The same, or highly similar, genetic codes
  • The same basic process of gene expression (transcription and translation)
  • The same molecular building blocks, such as amino acids

Homologous genes

Biogeography, fossil record, direct observation of microevolution.

  • Before DDT was applied, a tiny fraction of mosquitos in the population would have had naturally occurring gene versions ( alleles ) that made them resistant to DDT. These versions would have appeared through random mutation , or changes in DNA sequence. Without DDT around, the resistant alleles would not have helped mosquitoes survive or reproduce (and might even have been harmful), so they would have remained rare.
  • When DDT spraying began, most of the mosquitos would have been killed by the pesticide. Which mosquitos would have survived? For the most part, only the rare individuals that happened to have DDT resistance alleles (and thus survived being sprayed with DDT). These surviving mosquitoes would have been able to reproduce and leave offspring.
  • Over generations, more and more DDT-resistant mosquitoes would have been born into the population. That's because resistant parents would have been consistently more likely to survive and reproduce than non-resistant parents, and would have passed their DDT resistance alleles (and thus, the capacity to survive DDT) on to their offspring. Eventually, the mosquito populations would have bounced back to high numbers, but would have been composed largely of DDT-resistant individuals.
  • Homologous structures provide evidence for common ancestry, while analogous structures show that similar selective pressures can produce similar adaptations (beneficial features).
  • Similarities and differences among biological molecules (e.g., in the DNA sequence of genes) can be used to determine species' relatedness.
  • Biogeographical patterns provide clues about how species are related to each other.
  • The fossil record, though incomplete, provides information about what species existed at particular times of Earth’s history.
  • Some populations, like those of microbes and some insects, evolve over relatively short time periods and can observed directly.

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Frontiers for Young Minds

Frontiers for Young Minds

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A Brief Account of Human Evolution for Young Minds

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Most of what we know about the origin of humans comes from the research of paleoanthropologists, scientists who study human fossils. Paleoanthropologists identify the sites where fossils can be found. They determine the age of fossils and describe the features of the bones and teeth discovered. Recently, paleoanthropologists have added genetic technology to test their hypotheses. In this article, we will tell you a little about prehistory, a period of time including pre-humans and humans and lasting about 10 million years. During the Prehistoric Period, events were not reported in writing. Most information on prehistory is obtained through studying fossils. Ten to twelve million years ago, primates divided into two branches, one included species leading to modern (current) humans and the other branch to the great apes that include gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and orangutans. The branch leading to modern humans included several different species. When one of these species—known as the Neanderthals—inhabited Eurasia, they were not alone; Homo sapiens and other Homo species were also present in this region. All the other species of Homo have gone extinct, with the exception of Homo sapiens , our species, which gradually colonized the entire planet. About 12,000 years ago, during the Neolithic Period, some (but not all) populations of H. sapiens passed from a wandering lifestyle of hunting and gathering to one of sedentary farming, building villages and towns. They developed more complex social organizations and invented writing. This was the end of prehistory and the beginning of history.

What Is Evolution?

Evolution is the process by which living organisms evolve from earlier, more simple organisms. According to the scientist Charles Darwin (1809–1882), evolution depends on a process called natural selection. Natural selection results in the increased reproductive capacities of organisms that are best suited for the conditions in which they are living. Darwin’s theory was that organisms evolve as a result of many slight changes over the course of time. In this article, we will discuss evolution during pre-human times and human prehistory. During prehistory, writing was not yet developed. But much important information on prehistory is obtained through studies of the fossil record [ 1 ].

How Did Humans Evolve?

Primates, like humans, are mammals. Around ten to twelve million years ago, the ancestral primate lineage split through speciation from one common ancestor into two major groups. These two lineages evolved separately to become the variety of species we see today. Members of one group were the early version of what we know today as the great apes (gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos in Africa, orangutans in Asia) ( Figures 1 , 2 ); that is, the modern great apes evolved from this ancestral group. They mostly remained in forest with an arboreal lifestyle, meaning they live in trees. Great apes are also quadrupeds which means they move around with four legs on the ground (see Figure 2 ). The other group evolved in a different way. They became terrestrial, meaning they live on land and not in trees. From being quadrupeds they evolved to bipeds, meaning they move around on their two back legs. In addition the size of their brain increased. This is the group that, through evolution, gave rise to the modern current humans. Many fossils found in Africa are from the Australopithecus afarensis, Homo sapiens ."> genus named Australopithecus (which means southern ape). This genus is extinct, but fossil studies revealed interesting features about their adaptation toward a terrestrial lifestyle.

Figure 1 - Evolutionary scheme, showing that great apes and humans all evolved from a common ancestor.

  • Figure 1 - Evolutionary scheme, showing that great apes and humans all evolved from a common ancestor.
  • The Neanderthal picture is a statue designed from a fossil skeleton.

Figure 2 - Great Apes in nature.

  • Figure 2 - Great Apes in nature.
  • (above) Arboreal (in trees) locomotion of orangutans and (under) the quadrupedal (four-foot) locomotion of gorillas and chimpanzees.

Australopithecus afarensis and Lucy

In Ethiopia (East Africa) there is a site called Hadar, where several fossils of different animal species were found. Among those fossils was Australopithecus afarensis . In 1974, paleoanthropologists found an almost complete skeleton of one specimen of this species and named it Lucy, from The Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” The whole world found out about Lucy and she was in every newspaper: she became a global celebrity. This small female—only about 1.1 m tall—lived 3.2 million years ago. Analysis of her femurs (thigh bones) showed that she used terrestrial locomotion. Lucy could have used arboreal and bipedal locomotion as well, as foot bones of another A. afarensis individual had a curve similar to that found in the feet of modern humans [ 2 ]. Authors of this finding suggested accordingly that A. afarensis was exclusively bipedal and could have been a hunter-gatherer.

Homo habilis , Homo erectus , and Homo neanderthalensis

Homo is the genus (group of species) that includes modern humans, like us, and our most closely related extinct ancestors. Organisms that belong to the same species produce viable offspring. The famous paleoanthropologist named Louis Leakey, along with his team, discovered Homo habilis (meaning handy man) in 1964. Homo habilis was the most ancient species of Homo ever found [ 2 ]. Homo habilis appeared in Tanzania (East Africa) over 2.8 million years ago, and 1.5 million years ago became exinct. They were estimated to be about 1.40 meter tall and were terrestrial. They were different from Australopithecus because of the form of the skull. The shape was not piriform (pear-shaped), but spheroid (round), like the head of a modern human. Homo habilis made stone tools, a sign of creativity [ 3 ].

In Asia, in 1891, Eugene Dubois (also a paleoanthropologist) discovered the first fossil of Homo erectus (meaning upright man), which appeared 1.8 million years ago. This fossil received several names. The best known are Pithecanthropus (ape-man) and Sinanthropus (Chinese-man). Homo erectus appeared in East Africa and migrated to Asia, where they carved refined tools from stone [ 4 ]. Dubois also brought some shells of the time of H erectus from Java to Europe. Contemporary scientists studied these shells and found engravings that dated from 430,000 and 540,000 years ago. They concluded that H. erectus individuals were able to express themselves using symbols [ 5 ].

Several Homo species emerged following H. erectus and quite a few coexisted for some time. The best known one is Homo neanderthalensis ( Figure 3 ), usually called Neanderthals and they were known as the European branch originating from two lineages that diverged around 400,000 years ago, with the second branch (lineage) Homo sapiens known as the African branch. The first Neanderthal fossil, dated from around 430,000 years ago, was found in La Sima de los Huesos in Spain and is considered to originate from the common ancestor called Homo heidelbergensis [ 6 ]. Neanderthals used many of the natural resources in their environment: animals, plants, and minerals. Homo neanderthalensis hunted terrestrial and marine (ocean) animals, requiring a variety of weapons. Tens of thousands of stone tools from Neanderthal sites are exhibited in many museums. Neanderthals created paintings in the La Pasiega cave in the South of Spain and decorated their bodies with jewels and colored paint. Graves were found, which meant they held burial ceremonies.

Figure 3 - A comparison of the skulls of Homo sapiens (Human) (left) vs. Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthal) (right).

  • Figure 3 - A comparison of the skulls of Homo sapiens (Human) (left) vs. Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthal) (right).
  • You can see a shape difference. From Scientific American Vol. 25, No. 4, Autumn 2016 (modified).

Denisovans are a recent addition to the human tree. In 2010, the first specimen was discovered in the Denisova cave in south-western Siberia. Very little information is known on their behavior. They deserve further studies due to their interactions with Neandertals and other Homo species (see below) [ 7 ].

Homo sapiens

Fossils recently discovered in Morocco (North Africa) have added to the intense debate on the spread of H. sapiens after they originated 315,000 years ago [ 8 ]. The location of these fossils could mean that Homo sapiens had visited the whole of Africa. In the same way, the scattering of fossils out of Africa indicated their migrations to various continents [ 9 ]. While intensely debated, hypotheses focus on either a single dispersal or multiple dispersals out of the African continent [ 10 , 11 ]. Nevertheless, even if the origin of the migration to Europe is still a matter of debate [ 12 ], it appears that H. sapiens was present in Israel [ 13 ] 180,000 years ago. Therefore, it could be that migration to Europe was not directly from Africa but indirectly through a stay in Israel-Asia. They arrived about 45,000 years ago into Europe [ 14 ] where the Neanderthals were already present (see above). Studies of ancient DNA show that H. sapiens had babies with Neanderthals and Denisovans. Nowadays people living in Europe and Asia share between 1 and 4% of their DNA with either Neanderthals or Denisovans [ 15 ].

Several thousand years ago H. sapiens already made art, like for example the wall painting in the Chauvet cave (36,000 years ago) ( Figure 4 ) and the Lascaux cave (19,000 years ago), both in France. The quality of the paintings shows great artistic ability and intellectual development. Homo sapiens continued to prospect the Earth. They crossed the Bering Land Bridge, connecting Siberia and Alaska and moved south 12,500 years ago, to what is now called Chile. Homo sapiens gradually colonized our entire planet ( Figure 5 ).

Figure 4 - The lions in the Chauvet cave (−36,000 years).

  • Figure 4 - The lions in the Chauvet cave (−36,000 years).
  • In this period wild lions were present in Eurasia . Photo: Bradshaw foundation.com. Note the lively character of the picture.

Figure 5 - Homo sapiens traveled in the world at various periods as shown on the map.

  • Figure 5 - Homo sapiens traveled in the world at various periods as shown on the map.
  • They had only their legs to move!

The Neolithic Revolution

Neolithic Period means New Stone Age, due to the new stone technology that was developed during that time. The Neolithic Period started at the end of the glacial period 11,700 years ago. There was a change in the way humans lived during the Neolithic Period. Ruins found in Mesopotamia tell us early humans lived in populated villages. Due to the start of agriculture, most wandering hunter-gatherers became sedentary farmers. Instead of hunting dogs familiar with hunter-gatherers, farmers preferred sheepdogs [ 16 ]. In the Neolithic age, humans were farming and herding, keeping goats and sheep. Aurochs (extinct wild cattle), shown in the paintings from the Lascaux cave, are early ancestors of the domesticated cows we have today [ 17 ]. The first produce which early humans began to grow in Mesopotamia (a historical region in West Asia, situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers) was peas and wheat [ 18 ]. Animals and crops were traded and written records were kept of these trades. Clay tokens were the first money for these transactions. The Neolithic Period saw the creation of commerce, money, mathematics, and writing ( Figure 6 ) in Sumer, a region of Mesopotamia. The birth of writing started the period that we call “history,” in which events are written down and details of big events as well as daily life can easily be passed on. This tremendous change in human lifestyle can be called the Neolithic Revolution .

Figure 6 - From the beginning to final evolution of cuneiform writing.

  • Figure 6 - From the beginning to final evolution of cuneiform writing.
  • Writing on argil support showed changes from pictograms to abstract design. Picture modified from British Museum. Dates in year BC.

From the time of Homo erectus , Homo species migrated out of Africa. Homo sapiens extended this migration over the whole planet. In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Europeans explored the world. On the various continents, explorers met unknown populations. The Europeans were wondering if those beings were humans or not. But actually, those populations were also descendants of the men and women who colonized the earth at the dawn of mankind. In much earlier times, there was a theory that there were several races of humans, based mostly on skin color, but this theory was not supported by science. Current studies of DNA show that more than seven billion people who live on earth today are not of different races. There is only one human species on earth today, named Homo sapiens .

Suggested Reading

Species and Speciation. What defines a species? How new species can arise from existing species. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/her/tree-of-life/a/species-speciation

Speciation : ↑ The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Genus : ↑ In the classification of biology, a genus is a subdivision of a family. This subdivision is a grouping of living organisms having one or more related similarities. In the binomial nomenclature, the universally used scientific name of each organism is composed of its genus (capitalized) and a species identifier (lower case), for example Australopithecus afarensis, Homo sapiens.

Eurasia : ↑ A term used to describe the combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia.

Clay : ↑ Fine-grained earth that can be molded when wet and that is dried and baked to make pottery.

Revolution : ↑ Fundamental change occurring relatively quickly in human society.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Emma Clayton (Frontiers) for her advice and careful reading. Photo of Neanderthal statue was from Stephane Louryan, one of the designers of Neanderthal’s statue project [Faculty of Medicine, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium].

[1] ↑ Godfraind, T. 2016. Hominisation et Transhumanisme . Bruxelles: Académie Royale de Belgique.

[2] ↑ Ward, C. V., Kimbel, W. H., and Johanson, D. C. 2011. Complete fourth metatarsal and arches in the foot of Australopithecus afarensis. Science 331:750–3. doi: 10.1126/science.1201463

[3] ↑ Harmand, S., Lewis, J. E., Feibel, C. S., Lepre, C. J., Prat, S., Lenoble, A., et al. 2015. 3.3-million-year-old stone tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya. Nature 521:310–5. doi: 10.1038/nature14464

[4] ↑ Carotenuto, F., Tsikaridze, N., Rook, L., Lordkipanidze, D., Longo, L., Condemi, S., et al. 2016. Venturing out safely: the biogeography of Homo erectus dispersal out of Africa. J. Hum. Evol. 95:1–12. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.02.005

[5] ↑ Joordens, J. C., d’Errico, F., Wesselingh, F. P., Munro, S., de Vos, J., Wallinga, J., et al. 2015. Homo erectus at Trinil on Java used shells for tool production and engraving. Nature 518:228–31. doi: 10.1038/nature13962

[6] ↑ Arsuaga, J. L., Martinez, I., Arnold, L. J., Aranburu, A., Gracia-Tellez, A., Sharp, W. D., et al. 2014. Neandertal roots: cranial and chronological evidence from Sima de los Huesos. Science 344:1358–63. doi: 10.1126/science.1253958

[7] ↑ Vernot, B., Tucci, S., Kelso, J., Schraiber, J. G., Wolf, A. B., Gittelman, R. M., et al. 2016. Excavating Neandertal and Denisovan DNA from the genomes of Melanesian individuals. Science 352:235–9. doi: 10.1126/science.aad9416

[8] ↑ Richter, D., Grun, R., Joannes-Boyau, R., Steele, T. E., Amani, F., Rue, M., et al. 2017. The age of the hominin fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and the origins of the Middle Stone Age. Nature 546:293–6. doi: 10.1038/nature22335

[9] ↑ Vyas, D. N., Al-Meeri, A., and Mulligan, C. J. 2017. Testing support for the northern and southern dispersal routes out of Africa: an analysis of Levantine and southern Arabian populations. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol . 164:736–49. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.23312

[10] ↑ Reyes-Centeno, H., Hubbe, M., Hanihara, T., Stringer, C., and Harvati, K. 2015. Testing modern human out-of-Africa dispersal models and implications for modern human origins. J. Hum. Evol . 87:95–106. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.06.008

[11] ↑ Templeton, A. 2002. Out of Africa again and again. Nature 416:45–51. doi: 10.1038/416045a

[12] ↑ Arnason, U. 2017. A phylogenetic view of the Out of Asia/Eurasia and Out of Africa hypotheses in the light of recent molecular and palaeontological finds. Gene 627:473–6. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.07.006

[13] ↑ Callaway, E. 2018. Israeli fossils are the oldest modern humans ever found outside of Africa. Nature 554:15–6. doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-01261-5

[14] ↑ Benazzi, S., Douka, K., Fornai, C., Bauer, C. C., Kullmer, O., Svoboda, J., et al. 2011. Early dispersal of modern humans in Europe and implications for Neanderthal behaviour. Nature 479:525–8. doi: 10.1038/nature10617

[15] ↑ Vernot, B., and Akey, J. M. 2014. Resurrecting surviving Neandertal lineages from modern human genomes. Science 343:1017–21. doi: 10.1126/science.1245938

[16] ↑ Ollivier, M., Tresset, A., Frantz, L. A. F., Brehard, S., Balasescu, A., Mashkour, M., et al. 2018. Dogs accompanied humans during the Neolithic expansion into Europe. Biol. Lett. 14:20180286. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0286

[17] ↑ Gerling, C., Doppler, T., Heyd, V., Knipper, C., Kuhn, T., Lehmann, M. F., et al. 2017. High-resolution isotopic evidence of specialised cattle herding in the European Neolithic. PLoS ONE 12:e0180164. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180164

[18] ↑ Revedin, A., Aranguren, B., Becattini, R., Longo, L., Marconi, E., Lippi, M. M., et al. 2010. Thirty thousand-year-old evidence of plant food processing. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A . 107:18815–9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1006993107

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

The Web of Life

A brief overview of human evolution.

Within the deep-time context of Earth’s geologic history, or even life history, anatomically modern humans have been on the global scene for a relatively tiny amount of time — around 300,000 years . But how exactly did we get here?

About 7 million years ago, the lineages that would eventually produce humans and chimpanzees diverged . This point of divergence is referred to as the most recent common ancestor, a term that describes the individual from which two distinct species originate. This shared ancestor is the theoretical “mother” of both humans and chimpanzees, as the offspring of this individual mark the beginning of speciation down distinct phylogenetic, or evolutionary, pathways. In this case, one of these pathways happened to split once again, resulting in the emergence of chimpanzees and bonobos, our closest living non-human relatives . The other pathway gave birth to a long and circuitous evolutionary journey that would eventually produce us, Homo sapiens sapiens (aptly named for our wise-wiseness). This path was anything but deterministic, comprising a variety of pre-human hominins that very well could never have arisen, or produced humans whatsoever. In this article, we’ll synthesize some of the key developments in this evolutionary picture, providing some broad prehistorical strokes from which to better understand our origins.

According to most experts, the first undisputable hominin species is Australopithecus anamensis , whose fossils can be traced back to 4.2 million years ago (or 4.2 mya for short). Originating in Eastern Africa, A. anamensis was quickly succeeded by a series of other Australopithecus species, such as A. afarensis and A. africanus (famously known for the renowned “Lucy” fossil ) who lived between 3.9 and 2.9 mya. There is strong fossil evidence to support the conclusion that Australopithecus species were full-time bipeds, including a number of human-like footprints from 3.7 million years ago preserved in volcanic ash in northern Tanzania. However, apart from their bipedality, these species bore little resemblance to Homo sapiens . Standing between 3 and 5 feet tall, Australopithecus species were likely fully covered in hair and had a brain only 1/3 the size of that of modern humans.

Things start to look slightly more familiar around 2.5 million years ago with the onset of the genus Homo . While H. habilis , the hypothesized descendant of Australopithecus , is the first widely recognized human species, our true interest lies even one evolutionary step further. Following H. habilis , H. erectus made their first appearance around 1.9 mya, bringing with them a number of key morphological changes. For one, H. erectus began approaching the stature of H. sapiens , standing between 146 and 185 cm tall, or about 5 1/2 feet on average. It’s also hypothesized that they exhibited significant hair loss, highlighting the growing importance of sweating as a form of releasing heat while hunting, foraging, or travelling on the hot savanna. Most importantly, their brain size was substantially larger than that of prior hominins, averaging about 1,000 cubic centimeters compared to Australopithecus Afarensis ’s cranial capacity of 420-550 cubic centimeters.

These morphological adaptations brought with them a number of behavioral changes as well. Most significantly, H. erectus is the first human species that we know was capable of using fire . Additionally, H. erectus is likewise credited with the creation of the Acheulean tool industry . This toolkit is characterized by the hand axe, an implement of greater complexity that required more craftsmanship, and provided a sharper edge, than previous Oldowan tools (a simpler category of tools used by prior Hominins). These developments, along with the fact that many of H. erectus ’s fossil sites are scattered with bones of medium- to large-sized game, imply some exciting trends about H. erectus physiology and psychology . Mainly, these bones and fire usage imply the possibility of: (1) a coordinated group hunting effort to take down large game, demonstrating the development of group sociality, and (2) cooked food.

H. erectus is the first human species that we know was capable of using fire.

Cooking food has two major effects. The first is that it makes food softer and easier to eat, thus encouraging a reduction in tooth size and jaw strength. This also frees humans from having to spend half our day chewing ( as many of our contemporary ape relatives do ). The second is that it increases the caloric content that humans can get from food, as less energy is squandered internally in the breaking down of raw foods into something digestible. This extra energy provides the necessary preconditions for brain growth, a highly costly organ energy-wise, which is evidenced by H. erectus ’s increased brain capacity. With all this in mind, it may not come as a surprise to learn that H. erectus was highly successful, becoming the first hominin species to expand beyond Africa, extending into Asia as early as 2.1 mya and Europe by at least 500,000 years ago , if not sooner.

Over the following centuries, H. erectus eventually speciated into two other forms of Homo : H. heidelbergensis and H. neanderthalensis . These species generally continued with the predominant adaptive trends already set in place by prior hominin evolution, including larger brains, more complex tools, and increasingly gracile (slender) jaws and teeth. They also continued to exhibit increasingly complex social behavior, such as sexual division of labor, group hunting, and, eventually, even art and ornamentation. That being said, one substantial limiting factor to Neanderthals’ success was the fact that they possessed significant vocal limitations and were incapable of articulate speech , greatly limiting their ability for complex social interaction. However, although they are often depicted as grunting brutes, Neanderthals were in fact highly intelligent creatures who enjoyed larger brains on average than modern humans and showed many signs of complex culture. This is perhaps evidenced by the fact that there was significant interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthal populations for thousands of years. As a result, today, the genome of all non-African human populations contain anywhere from 1-4% of Neanderthal DNA . Talk about a lasting impression!

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Speaking of which, we now come to the part of the story that is perhaps of most interest to our (admittedly anthropocentric) mindset: ourselves. Fossil evidence suggests that anatomically modern humans first emerged about 300,000 years ago . After that, following a number of unsuccessful attempts at migration out of Africa, recent evidence suggests that humans first successfully expanded into Eurasia around 65-50,000 years ago in a single migration wave from which all modern non-African populations are descended (though other dispersal theories exist ). H. sapiens then proceeded to spread throughout Eurasia and Oceania, displacing , outcompeting , or exterminating (pick your favorite theory) all other human species they encountered along the way, along with much of the megafauna (large animals). What’s more, H. sapiens had even spread into the Americas potentially as early as 40,000 to 30,000 years ago , thus occupying nearly all the habitable land on the planet. What was it that made these early Homo sapiens so successful?

As with many things, it’s impossible to distill this answer down to one reductionist cause. Humans have been so successful simply because of our, well, human-ness. That being said, although human nature continues to escape definition, it is thankfully not beyond description, and we can nonetheless identify a number of factors that have contributed to our ancestor’s success.

As we’ve been discussing, Homo sapiens had a number of important biological adaptations that began developing in prior hominin lineages. These include bipedality, opposable thumbs, and sweating, among others. However, two vital differences that set H. sapiens apart from prior human and hominin species are (1) a spectrum of physiological developments in the human vocal tract which allow for articulate speech and (2) large brains . Together, these adaptations produced highly intelligent creatures, who now could talk to one another… And the rest of the story practically writes itself. In an eyeblink, humans were suddenly enmeshed in a highly complex world of language, religion, politics, friendships, tradition – human culture itself was suddenly conceived. With culture and intellect on their side, H. sapiens were able to swiftly adapt to new environments, innovate better ways of hunting and gathering, and create and tell new stories to explain the strange world they found themselves in.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Early human lifestyle will be discussed in far more depth in a later article , but I’d like to end here by briefly commenting on one final aspect of the origin of human culture. Another crucial side effect of these changes was that an individual H. sapiens ’s fitness was constrained not by biological factors, but by social factors. For humans, it suddenly became important not just how much food you got, or how many mates you had access to, or if a predator would kill you or not, but how much status you had in your tribe, if people thought you were a nice guy, or if Jessica liked you, or, like, like liked you…or maybe not. It became not just an affectation, but a necessity to keep track of the various complicated and ever-changing relationships in one’s social sphere, as humans exchanged not just physical, but social capital. In the end, the minds that made us so successful in our global conquest also came with a steep tradeoff, as hidden biases adapted to our evolutionary context continue to color our daily experience of reality to this day…but that’s a topic for another article.

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Essay on Human Evolution

Students are often asked to write an essay on Human Evolution in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Human Evolution

Introduction.

Human evolution is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. It’s a fascinating journey that took millions of years.

The Beginning

Our story begins in Africa about 6 million years ago. The first humans were primates, similar to apes.

Walking Upright

Around 4 million years ago, early humans started walking upright. This trait, called bipedalism, set us apart from other apes.

Use of Tools

About 2.6 million years ago, humans started using tools. This was a major step in our evolution.

Development of Language

Language developed about 50,000 years ago. It allowed us to share knowledge and build societies.

Human evolution is a fascinating subject. It helps us understand where we come from and who we are.

250 Words Essay on Human Evolution

Introduction to human evolution.

Human evolution is an intriguing scientific concept that traces the progression of Homo sapiens from our early ancestors. It is a multidimensional process that has been shaped by natural selection, genetic drift, migration, and mutation over millions of years.

The Early Beginnings

The journey of human evolution began approximately 6 million years ago in Africa, with the emergence of the first hominins, our earliest ancestors. These hominins were distinguished from apes by their upright posture and bipedal locomotion.

The Genus Homo

Around 2 million years ago, the genus Homo appeared, characterized by a significant increase in brain size and the advent of tool use. Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and eventually Homo sapiens, our species, were part of this genus. Homo sapiens are unique in their capacity for complex language, abstract thought, and creativity.

The Role of Environment

Environmental changes played a critical role in human evolution. For instance, climate fluctuations led to the development of traits like bipedalism, which allowed early hominins to adapt to diverse habitats.

Modern Humans and Migration

Around 70,000 years ago, modern humans began migrating out of Africa, populating different parts of the world. This migration led to the development of diverse human populations with distinct genetic and cultural variations.

The story of human evolution is a testament to our species’ adaptability and resilience. It underscores the dynamic interplay between biology and environment, shaping our past and influencing our future. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of our evolution, we gain profound insights into what it means to be human.

500 Words Essay on Human Evolution

Human evolution is a fascinating and complex process that has shaped us into the beings we are today. It is a multidisciplinary field of science that encompasses biology, anthropology, archaeology, and genetics. The process of evolution involves a series of natural changes that cause species to arise, adapt to the environment, and eventually become extinct.

The Origins of Homo Sapiens

The journey of human evolution began approximately six million years ago in Africa, when the human lineage diverged from that of chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. The first species in the human lineage, known as hominins, were significantly different from modern humans. They had a combination of human-like traits such as upright walking, and traits we associate with other primates, such as a smaller brain size.

Over time, evolutionary pressures such as environmental changes and competition for resources led to the emergence of new hominin species. Around two million years ago, the genus Homo, which includes modern humans, emerged. The Homo species had larger brains and made sophisticated tools.

The Advent of Homo Sapiens

Approximately 300,000 years ago, Homo sapiens, our own species, appeared. Early Homo sapiens had a combination of physical traits from earlier hominin species and new traits that we still possess today, such as a high forehead and a chin. They also exhibited advanced behaviors, such as creating complex tools and engaging in symbolic behavior like art and burial rituals.

The Homo sapiens were not the only hominin species on Earth at that time. They coexisted, and sometimes interbred, with other species such as the Neanderthals. However, about 40,000 years ago, all other hominin species had become extinct, leaving Homo sapiens as the sole surviving species in the human lineage.

Migration and Modern Evolution

The Homo sapiens began to migrate out of Africa around 70,000 years ago, gradually populating the entire globe. They adapted to a variety of environments and developed diverse cultures. This migration and adaptation are reflected in the genetic diversity we see in modern humans.

Modern human evolution continues today. Humans are still evolving, with natural selection acting on traits such as resistance to diseases and the ability to digest certain foods. Furthermore, our cultural and technological advancements are now a significant driver of our evolution.

The journey of human evolution is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of our species. It is a complex process that has shaped our physical traits, behaviors, and cultures. As we continue to evolve and adapt to our changing world, we carry with us the legacy of millions of years of evolution. Understanding our evolutionary history not only helps us appreciate our place in the natural world but also sheds light on our future as a species.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

  • Essay on Human Resources
  • Essay on Human Empowerment
  • Essay on Difference Between Humans and Animals

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18.5A: The Fossil Record as Evidence for Evolution

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Fossils tell us when organisms lived, as well as provide evidence for the progression and evolution of life on earth over millions of years.

Learning Objectives

  • Synthesize the contributions of the fossil record to our understanding of evolution
  • Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past.
  • Fossils are important evidence for evolution because they show that life on earth was once different from life found on earth today.
  • Usually only a portion of an organism is preserved as a fossil, such as body fossils (bones and exoskeletons ), trace fossils (feces and footprints), and chemofossils (biochemical signals).
  • Paleontologists can determine the age of fossils using methods like radiometric dating and categorize them to determine the evolutionary relationships between organisms.
  • biomarker : A substance used as an indicator of a biological state, most commonly disease.
  • trace fossil : A type of fossil reflecting the reworking of sediments and hard substrates by organisms including structures like burrows, trails, and impressions.
  • fossil record : All discovered and undiscovered fossils and their placement in rock formations and sedimentary layers.
  • strata : Layers of sedimentary rock.
  • fossiliferous : Containing fossils.

What Fossils Tell Us

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past. Fossils range in age from 10,000 to 3.48 billion years old. The observation that certain fossils were associated with certain rock strata led 19th century geologists to recognize a geological timescale. Like extant organisms, fossils vary in size from microscopic, like single-celled bacteria, to gigantic, like dinosaurs and trees.

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Permineralization

Permineralization is a process of fossilization that occurs when an organism is buried. The empty spaces within an organism (spaces filled with liquid or gas during life) become filled with mineral-rich groundwater. Minerals precipitate from the groundwater, occupying the empty spaces. This process can occur in very small spaces, such as within the cell wall of a plant cell. Small-scale permineralization can produce very detailed fossils. For permineralization to occur, the organism must be covered by sediment soon after death, or soon after the initial decay process.

The degree to which the remains are decayed when covered determines the later details of the fossil. Fossils usually consist of the portion of the organisms that was partially mineralized during life, such as the bones and teeth of vertebrates or the chitinous or calcareous exoskeletons of invertebrates. However, other fossils contain traces of skin, feathers or even soft tissues.

Trace Fossils

Fossils may also consist of the marks left behind by the organism while it was alive, such as footprints or feces. These types of fossils are called trace fossils, or ichnofossils, as opposed to body fossils. Past life may also leave some markers that cannot be seen but can be detected in the form of biochemical signals; these are known as chemofossils or biomarkers.

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The Fossil Record

The totality of fossils, both discovered and undiscovered, and their placement in fossiliferous (fossil-containing) rock formations and sedimentary layers (strata) is known as the fossil record. The fossil record was one of the early sources of data underlying the study of evolution and continues to be relevant to the history of life on Earth. The development of radiometric dating techniques in the early 20th century allowed geologists to determine the numerical or “absolute” age of various strata and their included fossils.

Evidence for Evolution

Fossils provide solid evidence that organisms from the past are not the same as those found today; fossils show a progression of evolution. Fossils, along with the comparative anatomy of present-day organisms, constitute the morphological, or anatomical, record. By comparing the anatomies of both modern and extinct species, paleontologists can infer the lineages of those species. This approach is most successful for organisms that had hard body parts, such as shells, bones or teeth. The resulting fossil record tells the story of the past and shows the evolution of form over millions of years.

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Understanding Evolution

Your one-stop source for information on evolution

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Found 19 resources:

Evo in the news: Human evolutionary history impacts our COVID-19 risk

Grade Level(s):

  • UC Museum of Paleontology

Resource type:

  • Evo in the News article

Time: 30 minutes

This news brief from November 2020 explains how a gene from Neanderthals made its way into human populations and now affects COVID-19 risk.

View details »

a neanderthal woman with heavy brow, broad nose, and long hair

La historia evolutiva del ser humano afecta nuestro riesgo de padecer COVID-19

Este resumen de noticias de noviembre de 2020 explica cómo un gen de los Neandertales que se introdujo en las poblaciones de los humanos modernos, afecta al riesgo de padecer COVID-19.

The genes that lie beneath: The work of Leslea Hlusko

  • Research profile

Time: 40 minutes

Evolutionary biologist Leslea Hlusko's research takes her from the deserts of Ethiopia, where she hunts for hominid and primate fossils, to a baboon colony in San Antonio where she takes thousands of measurements of the primates' imposing canines. This research profile describes how the two projects are linked by a hunt for genetic variation, a key component of natural selection.

Dr. Leslea Hlusko

The ChronoZoom Time Atlas of Earth History and Big History

Time: 1 hour

This resource presents Big History in a sequence of time scales through graphic panels. Each panel is accompanied by a page of text, discussing the historical features shown in the panel.

Chronozoom

Teaching the Process of Molecular Phylogeny and Systematics: A Multi-Part Inquiry-Based Exercise

  • Lents, Nathan, et al
  • Lab activity

Time: 1 to 4 periods

Students explore molecular data from Homo sapiens and four related primates and develop hypotheses regarding the ancestry of these five species by analyzing DNA sequences, protein sequences, and chromosomal maps.

cladogram of primates

How are humans related to other primates?

  • Kalinowski, Steven

Time: Two lab periods

In this two-part laboratory students analyze skull morphology and DNA sequences among primate species to answer one of the most meaningful questions in biology: How are humans related to other animals?

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

High altitude adaptations: The work of Emilia Huerta-Sánchez

This research profile follows statistician and population geneticist Emilia Huerta-Sánchez as she studies the adaptations that allow Tibetan highlanders to live 13,000 feet above sea level without developing altitude sickness.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: When it comes to evolution, headlines often get it wrong

Time: 15 minutes

Newly discovered fossils are prompting some scientists to consider a minor revision of the relationships shown on the human family tree. This news brief from September 2007 clarifies the occasionally misleading news coverage of the story.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: The evolutionary history of jogging

This news brief from March 2010 describes a new fitness trend: barefoot running. Though it might sound like just another fitness fad, soon to go the way of hula-hoops or jazzercise, this trend has a surprising connection to evolution.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: Seeing the tree for the twigs

Recent research has revealed that, in at least some ways, chimpanzees have evolved more than humans have. This news brief from May 2007 delves into this finding further and, in the process, debunks common misperceptions of human evolution.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: Making sense of ancient hominin DNA

Time: 10 minutes

In March 2010 German researchers announced that they had managed to extract DNA from the 40,000 year old fossil bone from a child discovered in a Siberian cave and that it didn't match up to the known genetic sequences of either humans or Neanderthals! This news brief examines the evidence in more detail and considers what that evidence might — or might not — mean about such claims.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: Got lactase?

Time: 20 minutes

The ability to digest milk is a recent evolutionary innovation that has spread through some human populations. This news brief from April 2007 describes how evolution has allowed different human populations to take advantage of the nutritional possibilities of dairying and links evolution with the prevalence of lactose tolerance among people of different ethnicities.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: Ghosts of epidemics past

HIV and malaria both constitute global health threats, respectively affecting more than 30 million and 200 million people worldwide. This news brief from October 2008 describes new research that reveals an unexpected evolutionary link between the two.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: Genealogy enthusiasts mine DNA for clues to evolutionary history

This news brief, from November 2007, turns an evolutionary lens on businesses that use DNA for genealogy research and, in the process, illuminates what their genetic tests really track.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: Evolving altitude aptitude

This news brief from October 2010 examines new research that makes it clear that Tibetan highlanders have not just acclimated to their mountain home; evolutionary adaptations have equipped them with unique physiological mechanisms for dealing with low oxygen levels.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: Evolution in the fast lane?

Have humans, with all of our technological advances, exempted ourselves from further evolution? Perhaps not. This news brief, from February 2008, examines genetic research which suggests that human evolution may haved actually accelerated in our recent history.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Evo in the news: A fish of a different color

This news brief, from February 2006, describes how a mutated zebrafish gene may help us understand human evolution and the genes underlying human skin color. Humans and zebrafish both inherited the same pigmentation gene from their common ancestor.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

CSI: Olduvai Gorge. The work of Jackson Njau

This research profile follows paleoanthropologist Jackson Njau as he investigates ancient predators, like crocodiles and large cats, in an effort to understand how these organisms shaped the evolution of our human ancestors.

write a short essay explaining human evolution brainly

Webcast: From butterflies to humans

  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Video Lecture

Time: 60 minutes

In lecture four of a four part series, evolutionary biologist Sean Carroll uses the developmental genetics of insects to explain how old genes can learn new tricks and how this can help us understand human evolution.

This lecture is available from Howard Hughes' BioInteractive website.

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Write a note on human evolution.

Human evolution: human evolution is the evolutionary process by which human beings developed on earth. the evolution step involves a sequence of changes in genetic material and adapting to its surrounding. they evolved to live their lives to the best of their abilities. stages in human evolution: the various stages in the evolution of man: dryopethicus- the earlier known ancestor of man. found in some parts of africa, asia, and europe. australopithecus- inhabited in the mainland of asia. have large jaws and human-like teeth. homo habilis- make use of stone tools. they are able to communicate with each other. homo erectus- more-evolved human beings with large brain sizes. invented fire and were carnivorous (eat meat) homo sapiens- these are modern men with 1350cc brain capacity. develop the power of thinking, using tools, and being omnivorous..

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Darwin’s theory of evolution.

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  1. Directions: Write a short essay explaining human evolution ...

    Directions: Write a short essay explaining human evolution. In your essay, explain how you can help in the preservation and appreciation of the diversities of the human origins. Reflect on how evolution can be applied in your everyday life.

  2. Introduction to Human Evolution

    Human evolution. Human evolution is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence shows that the physical and behavioral traits shared by all people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately six million years. One of the earliest defining human traits ...

  3. write a short note on human evolution

    The biological name for "human" or "man" is Homo. The modern human species is called Homo sapiens. "Sapiens" means "thought". Homo sapiens means "the thinking man". Paleoanthropology looks at ancient human fossils, tools, and other signs of early human life. It began in the 19th century with the discovery of a skull of "Neanderthal man" in 1856.

  4. Human evolution

    human evolution, the process by which human beings developed on Earth from now-extinct primates.Viewed zoologically, we humans are Homo sapiens, a culture-bearing upright-walking species that lives on the ground and very likely first evolved in Africa about 315,000 years ago. We are now the only living members of what many zoologists refer to as the human tribe, Hominini, but there is abundant ...

  5. Human Evolution: Short Essay on Human Evolution

    Human Evolution: Short Essay on Human Evolution. Man is a product of evolution. Therefore human evolution is intimately related to the origin of life and its development on the face of earth. It is customary to speak of evolution 'from amoeba to Man', as if the amoeba is the simplest form of life. But in reality, there are several organisms ...

  6. write a short essay explaining the human evolution. in your essay

    Write a short essay explaining the human evolution. in your essay, explain how you can help in the preservation and appreciation of the diversities - 27306030 ... 27306030. answered write a short essay explaining the human evolution. in your essay, explain how you can help in the preservation and appreciation of the diversities origins. reflect ...

  7. Essay on Human Evolution: Top 6 Essays

    Essay # 1. Introduction to Human Evolution: Evolution as a process is composed of two parts: 1. An organism reproducing mechanism that provides variable organisms. Changes to the organism are largely random and effect future generations. They are made without regard to consequences to the organism. 2.

  8. Evidence for evolution (article)

    The evidence for evolution. In this article, we'll examine the evidence for evolution on both macro and micro scales. First, we'll look at several types of evidence (including physical and molecular features, geographical information, and fossils) that provide evidence for, and can allow us to reconstruct, macroevolutionary events.

  9. A Brief Account of Human Evolution for Young Minds

    Figure 6 - From the beginning to final evolution of cuneiform writing. Writing on argil support showed changes from pictograms to abstract design. Picture modified from British Museum. Dates in year BC. Conclusion. From the time of Homo erectus, Homo species migrated out of Africa. Homo sapiens extended this migration over the whole planet. In ...

  10. 15.18: Evolution of Humans

    Early Hominins: Genus Homo. The human genus, Homo, first appeared between 2.5 and 3 million years ago.For many years, fossils of a species called H.habiliswere the oldest examples in the genus Homo, but in 2010, a new species called Homo gautengensis was discovered and may be older. Compared to A.africanus, H.habilis had a number of features more similar to modern humans.

  11. A Brief Overview of Human Evolution

    11 minute read. Within the deep-time context of Earth's geologic history, or even life history, anatomically modern humans have been on the global scene for a relatively tiny amount of time — around 300,000 years. But how exactly did we get here? About 7 million years ago, the lineages that would eventually produce humans and chimpanzees ...

  12. Essay on Human Evolution

    The journey of human evolution is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of our species. It is a complex process that has shaped our physical traits, behaviors, and cultures. As we continue to evolve and adapt to our changing world, we carry with us the legacy of millions of years of evolution. Understanding our evolutionary history not ...

  13. What's a good essay introduction for Hominin Evolution?

    To write a good essay introduction for Hominin Evolution, start by providing background information and context, introduce key concepts, and end with a clear purpose or thesis statement. Explanation: When writing an essay introduction for Hominin Evolution, it's important to provide background information and set the context for the topic.

  14. 18.5A: The Fossil Record as Evidence for Evolution

    Like extant organisms, fossils vary in size from microscopic, like single-celled bacteria, to gigantic, like dinosaurs and trees. Figure 18.5A. 1 18.5 A. 1: "Sue" T-rex skeleton: The bones of this Tyrannosaurus rex were preserved through the process of permineralization, which suggests that this organism was covered by sediment soon after ...

  15. Human evolution

    This news brief from May 2007 delves into this finding further and, in the process, debunks common misperceptions of human evolution. ... evolutionary biologist Sean Carroll uses the developmental genetics of insects to explain how old genes can learn new tricks and how this can help us understand human evolution.

  16. PDF How Evolution Shapes Our Lives: Essays on Biology and Society

    From subtle shifts in the genetic makeup of a single population to the entire tree of life, evolution is the process by which life changes from one generation to the next and from one geological epoch to another. The study of evolution encompasses both the historical pattern of evolu-tion—who gave rise to whom, and when, in the tree of life ...

  17. Write a note on human evolution. Biology Q&A

    Darwin's theory of evolution. Q. Write a short note on the human endocrine system. Q. Write notes on the origin and evolution of man. Q. Write a short note on human ear. Q. Describe the histology of human testis. Write a note on human sperm.

  18. Human Evolution Essay

    Human evolution is the gradual process in which people, or Homo sapiens, originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence, particularly in the form of fossils and secondary remains, show that the physical and behavioral traits shared by all people evolved over a period of approximately six million years. Humans are primates.

  19. Write a short essay response on whether you believe in ...

    Final answer: In biology (High School), the theory of evolution is widely accepted and supported by evidence from various scientific disciplines.. Explanation: In the field of biology, the theory of evolution is widely accepted as the most credible explanation for the diversity of life on Earth.. Evolution is supported by a vast amount of evidence from various scientific disciplines, including ...

  20. How to Write a Short Essay, With Examples

    2 Generate ideas. Jot down key points, arguments, or examples that you want to include in your essay. Don't get too wrapped up in the details during this step. Just try to get down all of the big ideas that you want to get across. Your major argument or theme will likely emerge as you contemplate.

  21. Write a short paragraph of about 150-300 words. Explain how the

    Human activities affect the operation of physical environment processes, and the results rebound on the human world. The human factor is an important consideration in assessing climate, landform, and ecosystem changes. The physical environment provides resources and a platform to use those resources, but can also be a hazard to people.