Flashcards
Human Evolution
Cards in this deck (14)
- 1ArcheaeologyArch. samples can be used to determine likely modes of human migration. These are often reexamined in the light of new data/tech. E.g microlith blades were ignored as 'just blades' for years until it was realised there were 2 very distinct types - does this suggest multiple colonisations of UK? DINNIS, 2012
- 2Isotopes & Other AnalysesCan be used to analyse what specimens have eaten and can conclude where they lived. I.e. if they're found in a certain area, this doesn't mean they lived here. Snails/seeds etc can be carried & dropped. Other analyses include Xray tech.
- 3Otzi The IcemanFound in the Alps. Analysis of his digestive system shows pollen & isotopic composition of his tooth enamel conclude where he was born/where he grew up - probably south of the Alpine Chain. Humans absorb isotopes from food which is then stored in the body. So isotopic composition can indicate geo. areas.
- 4AnthropologyThe science/understanding of humans. Data from primates indicate that brain size may be linked to the number of social interactions & things like problem solving. Macaques for example, live in complex social groups & have a larger brain than expected relative to body size. BALTER, 2012
- 5Social Brain HypothesisHuman brain size is linked to the number of social interactions
- 6Machiavellian Intelligence HypothesisHuman brain size has evolved through the ability of problem solving.
- 7LinguisticsThe study of Indo-European languages indicates that they likely originated during the expansion of farming from Antolia (Turkey). This is based upon the loss/gain of homologous words & geo. info. Looking @ diversification of particular language clades & more recent divergences shows farming was not the only driving factor.
- 8Molecular MarkersMolecular Markers can be used to study patterns of contemporary genetic variation. E.g. blood groups have been interpreted in terms of likely historical processes involving migration or pop. expansion. E.g the spread of farming during the Neolithic period.
- 9Interactions With Other SppInteractions with other species can be used as an indicator for migration. E.g commensal bacteria.
- 10Human Migration out of AfricaBoth DNA & arch. evidence agree. Evidence from maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA supports the hypothesis that the human origin was sub-Saharan Africa & dispersal occurred within the past 100,000 years, Researchers looked @ many genomes & the small changes made in the mitochondrial DNA sequences. INGMAN ET AL, 2000
- 11Mitochondrial Genetic MarkersPassed down from mother to daughter so there is an unbroken link to our ancestral grandmothers. The male line is similar but based on the Y-chromo. It is inherited from father to son so provides an unbroken link back to ancestral grandfathers. NB autosomal DNA is inherited equally from both parents. Mitochondrial is not subject to recombination so a better marker?
- 12Neanderthal & Humans - GREEN ET AL, 20101st Neanderthal genome suggests they interbred with humans 10s of 1000s of years ago. But mitochondrial evidence contradicts this. GREEN ET AL. Created a composite genome of Neanderthal. This was compared to 5 human genomes from around the world. Results showed that Euros/Asians shared 1-4% N DNA but Africans don't. Concluded that humans interbred with N after they had moved out of Africa.
- 13DNA Sequencing of Entire GenomesNew DNA tech allows entire genomes to be sequenced from small artefacts. E.g fragment of a finger bone found in Denisova allowed the whole Denisovan genome to be sequenced and human similarity calculated. They showed they had interbred with humans and other hominids. MEYER ET AL, 2012
- 14Current Genetic DiversityCan tell us about past. Analyses are based on freq. of different alleles and their likely geo. location. E.g. Y-chromo is associated with geo. location.
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- Degree Evolutionary Biology of Animals (Human Evolution) Flashcards on Human Evolution, created by Alice Burke on 24/05/2013.
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