Natiah

  Human Evolution!! =D   Human Evolution........ What is it? // ** Evolution ** // is any process of formation, growth, or development, which also means a change over a period of time. For many people, including me, it's hard to believe that humans have changed, and haven't been here since the beginning of time, or since the Earth began as a planet. A myriad (a lot) of scientists have been studying human evolution. They have found evidence to support how we got here.

Some people say that humans descended or came from monkeys or apes. In fact, most scientists would strongly disagree. The theory of human evolution is that humans, apes and monkeys share common or the same ancestors. //** Ancestors **// are people from whom someone is descended or came from. Fossils have been found that trace back to show both traits of apes and humans. Scientists believe that these ancestors may have lived more than 45 million years ago. Chimpanzees are types of apes. They are the closest living relatives of humans today, we also share common ancestors. The reason we aren't the same as chimpanzees or apes today is because our ancetors and ape ancestors, about 6 million and 30 million years ago evolved, and turned down different lines. They separated, and mated with others, or even found better food in other places, which caused them to be different in many ways. So, they came down from the trees and onto the land, where they found better food or homes.  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes">             <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-no-proof: yes">

Humans are classified as primates. //** Primates **// are a group of mammals that share the same characteristics. Some characteristics that primates share are; eyes located on both sides of the front of their head. They have binocular or 3D vision. All primates also have five flexible fingers and toes. Humans are also in a family separate than primates. The family is called hominids. //**Hominids**// include only humans and their human like ancestors. One characteristic that separates hominids from primates is //** bipedalism **// (bye-ped-a-lis-um). This means walking upright on two feet. This evidence of bipedalism is shown in a primate's skeletal structure. Gorillas and humans have a similar bone structure, but the human skeleton is used for walking upright, while gorilla skeletons are used for knuckle-walking (walking on their knuckles and hind feet, kind of like dogs)

To see a video on a family that may link us back to our ancestors, please click below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUYEVL_2wFk

Scientists have constantly been filling in missing pieces of human evolution. They have found many different fossils of ancient hominids. Fossils can be classified as hominids when they share some of the same characteristics of modern humans. //**Modern humans**// are humans that are presently living, but they are not ancient. Each hominid was unique in its own special way. They were unique in their size, the way they walked, the shape of their skulls, and other characteristics.

The earliest hominids were more like humans than apes or monkeys. They had some traits like the ability to walk upright, smaller teeth, flatter faces, and larger brains. The oldest fossils of hominids were found in Africa.

//** Australopithecines **//, which are other types of hominids, lived during the same times. They were slightly different in some ways though.

They had slender bodies, humanlike jaws and teeth, but small (apelike) skulls. Scientists believe that these types of hominids probably lived in forests and grasslands, and ate vegetarian meals. These hominids may have possibly been the ancestors of modern humans. Other earlier hominids had large bodies, massive teeth and jaws. They also had unique skull structures and small brains. These hominids were NOT ancestors of the modern humans.

About 2.4million years ago another small group of hominids appeared. They were similar to the australopithecines, but were more like humans. Some humanlike characteristics that this new group had were large and complex brains, rounder skulls, and flatter faces. They showed other similarities to humans, such as advanced tool-making abilities and they were also able to walk upright on two feet. This new group and modern humans were members of a group called HOMO. Scientists have evidence that show several members of the HOMO group that exist on other continents during the same time. More members of the new group HOMO were discovered later in the years. <span style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-SIZE: 150%; COLOR: #f8b716; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c609dc; TEXT-ALIGN: left"> <span style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-SIZE: 150%; COLOR: #f8b716; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #c609dc; TEXT-ALIGN: left"> A new member called //**Homo habilis**// appeared around 2.4million years ago.

About 1.8million years ago another member appeared. This new member was called **//Homo erectus.//**

The most recent hominids lived as recently as 30,000 years ago. Scientists think that there were two types of hominids at this time. Both types of hominids had the largest brains of any hominids and could make advanced tools, clothing and art. Most scientists believe that modern humans came from these types of hominids.

One recent hominid is known as **//Neanderthals//** (nee- an-derr-talls). Neanderthals lived in mostly Europe and western Asia. they may have lived up to 230,000 years ago. They hunted large animals for food, made fires, and even wore clothing. They may have also cared for the sick and the elderly, and also buried the dead with cultural rituals, just like modern humans normally do. About 30,000 years ago the Neanderthals disappeared. No one knows or has any evidence to help answer the question of their extinction.

Modern humans are also under the classification of **//Homo sapiens//** (say-pee-ins). The earliest Homo sapiens existed about 100,000 to 160,000 years ago in Africa. This group migrated sometime between 40,000 to 100,000 years ago, out of Africa. The early group of Homo sapiens created large amounts of art such as sculptures, carvings, paintings, and clothing. The high quality villages and burial grounds of the earlier humans showed how organized and complex the society was. Homo sapiens and Neanderthals differed in many ways. Homo sapiens had smaller and flatter faces, and rounder skulls. Out of all the hominids that were discovered, ONLY Homo sapiens still exist.

When scientists learn something new about a group of living organisms, they review their hypotheses. As more fossil evidence is discovered there is more detail to add. They add the detail to the relationships seen between each group. Sometimes new groups of hominids are recognized, and sometimes groups disappear. Scientists once described the history of primates to modern humans as a line, but as we later found out, humans are members of **//__MANY__//** different groups of hominids, so how can it be only a line? Our history is now described as a "tree" or even a "bush", because of the many branches.



Thank You, and I hope you enjoyed learning about Human Evolution. To get more information on this topic you can visit:

[|www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution]

__** Here are some coloring sheets....print them out and have FUN!!: **__ http://www.marathonsavingsbank.com/Portals/0/Febmky.jpg http://www.printactivities.com/ColoringPages/Monkeys/ManWithMonkey.gif http://www.animal-coloring-pages.com/images/animal%20coloring%20pages/monkey-coloring-pages/monkey-coloring-pages-2.gif http://www.tstl.net/Children/Coloring/CainAndAbel-Sacrifices.JPG http://www.tstl.net/Children/Coloring/YoungEsauAndJacob.jpg http://www.edupics.com/africa-europe-t8313.jpg

BIBLIOGRAPHY Austin(Texas), Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2007
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