Evidence will be presented to illustrate the strength of each theory. Finally the main arguments of this essay will be summarized and will conclude that human language cannot be fully explained by evolution. It will end with suggesting that these theories have to be seen as provisional, due to the possibility of new findings. The growing interest in the origin of language can be seen as the outcome of significant technological changes in various scientific sectors. When genes and DNA were discovered in 1953, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution has been supported in many aspects.
Genetic evidence sheds considerable light on the origins of the hominid lineage. An increasing body of fossil data helps us to understand where and when hominids came into existence. The first signs of hominid evolution are the morphological changes associated with bipedality, a locomotor pattern that offered fitness, advantages in a new environment. However, other behaviors remained similar to those of nonhuman primates. Dramatic progress came with the evolution of Homo erectus, who exhibited more "human" morphology and life ways.
Introduction As our closest living ancestors, bonobos (Pan Americus) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have often been used as an ancestral model to study social and cultural hominoid behavior. Chimpanzees and Bonobos' DNA differs only 1% from humans yet their social behavior is very primitive and different compared to humans. Molecular studies indicate that humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos are very closely related in a lineage that split into hominid and Pan lines approximately 6-7 million years ago, possibly following a divergence from the gorilla lineage about 1– 2 million years earlier (Caccone and Powell, 1989). Chimpanzees are great apes, under the Homo lineage, that have been known for their male dominant, meat eating and generally violent culture. Meanwhile bonobos, also great apes, are on a completely different behavior spectrum, they are a female dominant, more peaceful, and heavily sexually oriented society.
Human development studies began with Darwin and other evolutionists who shared his theories. Darwin wanted to prove his theory of evolution; he believed the only approach to this was him studying human development. (Boyd& Bee, 2006) The definition of a lifespan is the average or minimum length of time an organism, material, or object can be expected to survive or last. (American Heritage Dictionary, 2000) The definition of development based on biology is the process of an individual organism growing organically a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level. (Collins English Dictionary, 2003) Ultimately the two words conjoined define the methodical intra-individual change associated with progresses corresponding to age.
Evolution of the Hominid Culture, When did it start? Humans are no doubt different from the remainder of the animal kingdom. Homo sapiens have many derived characteristics biologically but it is our culture that really differentiates humans form the rest of the living world (Harris 1997). Culture is what sets humans apart from the rest of the animal kingdom, and it has long been a quest of many anthropologists to unveil the mysteries behind it. One of the many asked questions as a result is when did the capacity for culture emerge during the course of hominid evolution?
Ancient Hominid Fossils Derek Hudson ANTH 2301 Robert Marcom 4/23/15 Ancient Hominid Fossils Discovery of ancient hominid fossils over the past decades has given us a lot of insight about our ancient relatives. By comparing and contrasting two species and drawing conclusions about their similarities and differences. After drawing my conclusion I can support my theory that these two species are our common distant relatives based off physical traits and how our environments have helped us develop. The two species of hominid I’ve chosen too research are the Homo habilis and Australopithecus Afarensis. Although Homo habilis’ genus is Homo, many scholars have continued to debate it to be in the genus Australopithecus due to its relatively small size and primitive traits.
Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species, published on 24 November 1859, is a work of scientific literature which is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. For the sixth edition of 1872, the short title was changed to The Origin of Species. Darwin's book introduced the scientific theory that populations evolve over the course of generations through a process of natural selection. It presented a body of evidence that the diversity of life arose by common descent through a branching pattern of evolution. Darwin’s theory of evolution is an impressive unifying principle that credibly explains that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor and therefore, should be taught in public schools.
However the unreliability of the results makes the claim an ongoing discussion and an open debate. The theory of evolution, first proposed by Charles Darwin (1809 – 1882) implies that all species are derived from common ancestors through natural selection (Phoenix, 2007 p.118-121). Natural selection is thought to be the main factor resulting in the diversity of species: it has been defined as a natural process, whereby only the variants best adapted to their environment develop the ability of a longer survival and pass on the best characteristics to future generations. Natural selection in species leads to 'adaptation' which is a change in behaviour as a consequence of surrounding modification. Within humans many adaptations have happened through Darwin’s theory of natural selection, one of these adaptations is called Theory of Mind.
Evolution proves that humans and animals are alike. Humans and apes have similar homologous structures. This is because humans and apes once shared a common ancestor about six to eight billion years ago. Humans have evolved since that period. An article “A Change of Heart About Animals,” is written by an author who argues on how animals and humans are similar.
Evolutionary theorists have long recognized that the domestication of animals represented a major change in human life, providing not just a close-at-hand food source, but also non-human muscle power and a host of other advantages. Penn State anthropologist Prof. Pat Shipman argues that animal domestication is one manifestation of a larger distinctive trait of our species, the ‘animal connection,’ which unites and underwrites a number of the most important evolutionary advances of our hominin ancestors. Shipman’s proposal is discussed in a recent forum paper in Current Anthropology and is the subject of her forthcoming book, The Animal Connection. The paper is interesting to us here at Neuroanthropology.net because Shipman indirectly poses fascinating questions about the evolutionary significance of human-animal relationships, including the cognitive abilities of both and how they interact. As Shipman puts it in the Penn State press release about the research, if we only think about what domesticated animals do for us as a species, we miss the truly curious thing about our relationship to them: No other mammal routinely adopts other species in the wild — no gazelles take in baby cheetahs, no mountain lions raise baby deer….