1)The term hominin denotes human ancestors that lived after the split with chimpanzees and bonobos, 2] including many species and at least two distinct genera: Australopithecus and Homo.[3] Other fossil specimens such as Paranthropus, Kenyanthropus, and Origin may represent additional genera, but paleontologists debate their taxonomic status.[4] The early hominins such as Australopithecus had the same brain size as apes but were distinguished from apes by walking on two legs, an adaptation perhaps associated with a shift from forest to savanna habitats.[5] Hominins began to use rudimentary stone tools c. 3.3 million years ago,[a] marking the advent of the Paleolithic era.[6][7]
The genus Homo evolved from Australopithecus.[8] The earliest members of Homo share key traits with Australopithecus, but tend to have larger brains and smaller teeth.[9][10] The earliest record of Homo is the 2.8 million-year-old specimen LD 350-1 from Ethiopia, [11] and the earliest named species is Homo habits which evolved by 2.3 million years ago.[12] H. erect us (the African variant is sometimes called H. erg aster) evolved by 2 million years ago[13][b] and was the first hominin species to leave Africa and disperse across Eurasia.[14] Perhaps as early as 1.5 million years ago, but certainly by 250,000 years ago, hominins began to use fire for heat and cooking.[15][16]
Beginning about 500,000 years ago, Homo diversified into many new species of archaic humans such as the Neanderthals in Europe, the Denison in Siberia, and the diminutive H. floresiensis in Indonesia.[17][18] Human evolution was not a simple linear or branched progression but involved interbreeding between related species.[19][20] Genomic research has shown that hybridization between substantially diverged lineages was common in human evolution.[21] DNA evidence suggests that several genes of Neanderthal origin are present among all non-African populations, and Neanderthals and other hominins, such as Denison, may have contributed up to 6% of their genome to present-day humans.[22][23]Evolution involves gradual changes from simple to more complex forms. Humans are believed to have developed from simpler forms. Evolution is hypothesized to have begun in the oceans billions of years ago. Darwin gave the theory of evolution. In his book -The Origin of Species, Darwin has stated that evolution has come through a series of natural selection. The theory emphasized the following points:
Natural Selection
Variation
Struggle To Exist
Survival of the Fittest
Evolution is the outcome of the interaction among the following five processes:
Mutation
Genetic Recombination
Chromosomal Abnormalities
Reproductive isolation
Natural Selection
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Stages in Human Evolution
The following are the stages of human evolution:
Ardipithecus
These are deemed to be the ancestors of both man and apes. They lived in China, Africa, Europe and India. The genus Ardipithecus refers to the oak wood apes. When Ardipithecus was alive, the tropical lowlands which it inhabited were densely forested, so the members could have predominantly been herbivores.
2. Ramapithecus
Their first remains were discovered from the Shiva range in Punjab, and later in Africa and Saudi Arabia. They lived in open grasslands. Two pieces of evidence confirm their Hominid status:
Thickened tooth enamel, robust jaws and shorter canines.
Usage of hands for food and defence and extrapolations of upright posture.
3. Australopithecus
The fossil of this genus was first discovered in 1924 in South Africa. They lived on the ground, used stones as weapons and walked erect. They were 4 feet tall and weighed 60_80 pounds.
4. Homo Erectus
The first fossil of Homo Erectus was found in Java in 1891. These were named as Pithecanthropus Erect us. These were considered as the missing link between the man and apes. Another discovery made in China was the Peking man. This specimen had large cranial capacities and is believed to have lived in communities. Homo erectus used tools comprising quartz. Tools made of bones and wood were also discovered. There is evidence of collective hunting. There is also evidence of the use of fire. The Homo Erect us is believed to dwell in caves.
5. Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis
The Homo Erectus evolved into Homo Sapiens. During evolution, two sub-species of Homo Sapiens were identified - Homo sapiens Neanderthal and Homo sapiens sapiens. The cranial capacity of Neanderthal grew from 1200 to 1600 cc. Some small hand axes had also been discovered. This species of hominids could hunt big names such as mammoths.
6. Homo Sapiens Sapiens
The remains of Homo Sapiens were first discovered in Europe and were named Cro-Magnon. In these, the jaws are quite reduced, the modern man’s chin appeared, and the skull was rounded. Their cranial capacity was about 1350 cc. They gathered food through hunting. Art first appeared during this time.
This is how evolution took place.
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