10.2 Human evolution

1. Core Content

Evidence of common ancestors for living hominids, including humans

Interpretation of a phylogenetic tree to show the place of the family Hominidae in the animal kingdom

Characteristics that humans share with African apes

Anatomical differences between African apes and humans, with the aid of diagrams, as it applies to the following characteristics:

• Bipedalism (foramen magnum, spine and pelvic girdle)

• Brain size

• Teeth (dentition)

• Prognathism

• Palate shape

• Cranial ridges

• Brow ridges

Lines of evidence that support the idea of common ancestors for living hominids including humans:

• Fossil evidence: Evidence from fossils of different ages show that the anatomical characteristics of organisms changed gradually over time.

• Emphasis on evolutionary trends provided by the anatomical features of fossils of the following three genera:

- Ardipithecus

- Australopithecus

- Homo

as well as:

- The age of each fossil found/time-line for the existence of the three genera

- The fossil sites where they were found: emphasis on the fossil sites that form a part of the Cradle of Humankind

- The scientists who discovered them

• Genetic evidence: mitochondrial DNA

• Cultural evidence: tool-making

Out of Africa hypothesis

Evidence for the Out of Africa hypothesis:

• Fossil evidence: information on each of the following fossils that serve as evidence for the Out of Africa hypothesis:

- Ardipithecus (fossils found in Africa only)

- Australopithecus (fossils found in Africa only, including Karabo, Littlefoot, Taung Child, Mrs Ples)

- Homo (fossils of Homo habilis found in Africa only; oldest fossils of Homo erectus found in Africa, while the younger fossils were found in other parts of the world)

• Genetic evidence: mitochondrial DNA

Timeline for the existence of different species of the genus Homo and the significant features of each type of fossil to illustrate the differences amongst them

Interpretation of phylogenetic trees proposed by different scientists showing possible evolutionary relationships as it applies to hominid evolution