10. Human evolution.pdf

Human evolution Aarni Auerniitty Primate evolution  Evolved around 70 million years ago in Africa  From approx. 5000 current mammal species 360 belong to primates  Humans belong into family Hominidae...

Human evolution Aarni Auerniitty Primate evolution  Evolved around 70 million years ago in Africa  From approx. 5000 current mammal species 360 belong to primates  Humans belong into family Hominidae  Key adaptations  Social interactions, taking care of the young  Opposing thumbs  East African rift valley  geographic isolation divided the population to rain forests and savannah  Human evolution  Human line separated around 7 million years ago  Key adaptations  Walking on two legs, upright position  Using various tools  First humans approx. 2,8 million years ago  Key adaptations  Large brain  Using fire  Speech  Homo Sapiens 200 000 years ago  Bottleneck event caused the population of H. Sapiens to decline down to 10 000 individuals or even lower numbers  Cultural evolution  = Trasferring information accumulated in communities from generation to another  awareness  Less dependant on nature  ability to alter the environment for our own good  Other species and nature are falling behind  biodiversity crisis, climate change