Understanding Human Evolution

Today we are going to do some online activities to help you better understand how we can use genetics and anatomy to look at the timeline for human evolution and migration.

Finish your timeline we started in class by going to the ATLAS OF HUMAN JOURNEY site and clicking on journey highlights under at the bottom right of the image. Find at least 1 more highlight to add to each of the year tabs on your timeline.

Now you are ready to look more closely and genetics and human evolution.

The first activity is a chromosome matching activity called the CHROMOSOME CONNECTION
When you are done with it - answer the following questions:

1. How many chromosomes do we have in common with all three primates used?
2. How many chromosomes do we have in common with our closest relative?
   
3. What is our closest primate relative- how do we know?

The second activity looks at similarities and differences between primate anatomy and human anatomy that have allowed us to be bipedal (walking on two legs) and walking upright. BUILDING BODIES Drag bones from the bone box to either the human or primate column.

1. How can researchers use the foramen magnum in a skull to tell if it was an upright walker or a four legged walker?
2. Describe other differences between the primate and the human skull.
3. How do human pelvic bones (hips) look different from primate pelvic bones?
4. How can researchers use the pelvic bones to tell if it was an upright walker or a four legged walker?
5. What would you expect the spine of an upright walker to look like?
6. The femur is the thigh bone. Compare the femurs of the human and the primate - what do you notice that makes the femurs of the human- upright walker - different from the primate?
7. The lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) are also different in the human and primate. Why would the human bones need to be longer and thicker?
8. Look at the angle of the humerus (upper arm) and the shoulders in the primate and the human. Explain why you think they are different?
9. Why are the primate's upper arms longer and thicker than the human?
10. How are the thumbs and big toes different in the primate and the human?
11. If you were a paleontologist, which fossil bones would be most helpful in deciding if the specimen was an upright walker?
12. If you were a paleontologist which skull pieces would be most useful in determining if the specimen was an upright walker?

For the last activity - take a look at evolution and our choices to pick a mate- what did you answer after each page of information? How did your final answer compare to those of everyone else who took the survey? EVOLUTION AND LOVE