Please answer these two transition with long sentences such a form of essay. The
ID: 163444 • Letter: P
Question
Please answer these two transition with long sentences such a form of essay.
The opening sequence of 2001, A Space Odyssey, presents a "Hollywood" explanation for the transformation that sent ancient apes on an evolutionary path culminating with us, fully modern Homo sapiens capable of space travel (and a whole lot more). Develop an overview of what actually happened at each of the five major transformations in the evolution of the human lineage (Liberman's Transitions One through Five listed on page 18 of the SHB text and as headings below). Handwrite your answers (bullet points, essays, etc.) to the question on the three sheets provided (front and back is OK). Limit attachments to two extra pages of drawings, illustrations, etc. Refer to your class lecture and video notes, handouts, and texts, especially Evolution: Making Sense of Life, Ch. Program (humanoriginssi.edu) Watch out for creationist web sites - these can be tricky to spot but can mess up your project Transition One: The very earliest human ancestors diverged from the ancient African apes and evolved to be upright bipeds. Transition Two: The Australopiths, that evolved adaptations to forage for, and to eat a wide range of foods other than mostly fruit.Explanation / Answer
Evolutionary trends
When man was evolving from a common ancestor, from whihc in another line apes were also evolving, the following evolutionary trends can be noted. These are only speculations since no other direct evidence was available.
1. The apes were living in the forests and there is evidence to prove this that even today they are found in large numbers only in African forests.
2. They were arboreal and they were depending on fruits and seeds borne by trees. Due to some geological or other environmental hazards, the forests were destroyed and they were compelled to go to plain regions.
3. Having come to plain regions the forelimbs and hindlimbs, which were used as climbing and prehensile organs when they were arboreal, lost these functions and the forelimbs were used for picking up and conveying food to the mouth.
4. Due to this the snout began to recede i.e. the prognathous face was slowly becoming flat.
5. The hindlimbs were frequently used to move about. During this movement they were using their forelimbs as balancing organs in the absence of tail. This can be seen even today among the apes.
6. Because of bipedal locomotion the animals slowly acquired erect posture. Attaining erect posture is considered as one of the most remarkable evolutionary trends because due to this numerous other changes had taken place anatomically.
7. Bipedal locomotion and erect posture led to the changes in the occipital condyle locaiton, nuchal crest development and flattening of the pelvis. Changes in the occipital condyle location and nuchal crest development helped to hold the head in an upright position with its muscular support. The flattening of the pelvis helped for the support of the body and muscular attachments for the hindlimbs in bipedal locomotion.
8. Having come to the plain regions from forests, there was no need of rich growth of hair and so they were slowly lost and today the hair is said to be a vestigeal organ.
9. In the plain regions, the food materials were different and so change in the palate and tooth structures took place. From vegetarian diet, they were different and so change in the palate and tooth structures took place. From vegetarian diet, they were slowly adapting to meat diet.
10. Increasing meat diet led to chase the smaller animals and catch them to eat.
11. By change fire was noticed and the meat was cooked.
12. Stones were used to [produce fire and to throw on small animals to kill them.
13. Primitive man slowly acquired the ability to reason, fine memory power and use to language.
Ape man
The fossils of ape man were discovered form various parts of the world and the most ancient ones were seen in Africa. Following the fossils of apes, the fossils of ape man were also found at a later stage.
Australopithecus (African ape-man)
They were found in South Africa. It showed a curious mixture of huan and simian (apes) characters. It is considered that it is in the main line of human evolution. These ape man lived in early Pleistocene, about one million years ago.
Human characters
Somewhat erect posture - About 6 feet in height - Bipedal locomotion - Broad and flattend pelvis - Molarine teeth - Dental arch somewhat in the form of parabola - Large brain case - More rounded forehead -
Ape characters
Eyebrow ridges prominent - Protrusion of jaws - Teeth were large - Prognathous face
It has been suggested that the evolution of man from Australopithecus to Homo erectus was due to a change in diet, from plant food to an increasing dependence on fleshy food. The addition of meat to the diet demands co-ordination and behaviour of the hominids. The hunting and catching of warm blooded animals presented problems which needed immediate solutions. Moreover, with the intake of high protein animal food, early hominids did not hae to eat as often as the vegetarians have done. Dependence on meat altered chewing habits which affected the structure of the face.