1. THE PROCESS OF HOMINISATION
Webvideo: Natural selection
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Gorillas, chimpanzees and human beings all belong to a group of mammals called primates . These species, including modern humans, descend from a common ancestor.
The process of hominisation refers to the series of changes which gradually occurred in these new species. From that shared ancestry, evolutionary developments occurred over millions of years. This eventually led to the appearance of the first human beings.
Hominisation began with the appearance of a bipedal primate species in east Africa. The members of this species walked on their back legs and are therefore considered the first hominids .
A succession of changes in these ancestors occurred over time, resulting in the emergence of different species of hominids.
The most significant anatomical changes that occurred during hominisation were:
Bipedalism , which occurred as a result of changes in the anatomy of the pelvis and skull. The upright position enabled hominids to move around on their back legs and use their front limbs to make and use tool .
The development of opposable thumbs , that is, the ability to press the thumb against the other fingers of the hand. This enabled them to hold objects firmly, making it easier to do manual tasks and make tools with greater precision.
The gradual increase in the size of the skull and brain , and the development of the forehead, which is associated with an increase in intelligence .
The changes in the larynx, which made the development of language possible.
The gradual reduction in the size of the jaw and teeth and the development of the chin.
Weblink: The origins of humankind
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Did you know?
Genes are the part of a cell where an individual's physical characteristics are stored. This is the genetic information that children inherit from their parents. If a change occurs in this genetic information (a mutation), this can be passed on to the next generation. If this change becomes hereditary, this species changes or a new species is created.
When two species (the one that has mutated and the original one) share the same environment, the one that is least adapted will probably decrease in number until it disappears. This explains why we are the only surviving hominids. This theory is called evolution by natural selection and was developed by the British naturalist Charles Darwin.
During the time of Australopithecus , the climate changed and the wooded areas where they lived became savannahs with less vegetation. It became increasingly difficult to obtain food. The genus Homo adapted best to this new situation.
Homo habilis
Height: 1.40-1.50 m
Brain size: 650-800 cm3
Dated: 2.5-1.5 million years Their name comes from their ability to make tools. They are the first genus Homo hominids. The genus Homo hominids are so similar to us that they are considered human beings.
Homo erectus
Height: 1.60-1.80 m
Brain size: 800-1000 cm3
Dated: 1.8-0.1 million years They perfected tool making and learnt to use fire. They spread from Africa to Europe and Asia.
Homo neanderthalensis
Height: 1.60-1.70 m
Brain size: 1500 cm3
Dated: 125000-30000 B.C. They possessed great physical strength and intelligence. They used complex tool making techniques and buried their dead.
Homo sapiens
Height: 1.70-1.80 m
Brain size: 1500 cm3
Dated: 150000 B.C.-the present day. They spread from Africa across all the continents. They developed sophisticated tools and hunting techniques. They are responsible for the first works of art.
Weblink: Human evolution timeline
Weblink: Human family tree
Webvideo: The evolution of man