61. How is the usage of the words theory, adaptation, fitness, and evolution dif
ID: 178035 • Letter: 6
Question
61. How is the usage of the words theory, adaptation, fitness, and evolution different by scientists and the general public?
62. What are the important characteristics that distinguish Homo from Australopithecus; Hominins from other apes; and Homo sapiens from other Homo?
63. How does fossilization work and what are its limits and biases?
64. Why does altruism seem to contradict Darwinian natural selection? What allows these theories to co-exist?
65. How does Hamilton’s rule apply to the previous question?
66. What is Bateman’s rule and how does it apply to you?
67. Do any organisms have a non-senescent life history? How might they accomplish this feat?
Explanation / Answer
61. How is the usage of the words theory, adaptation, fitness, and evolution different by scientists and the general public?
The usage of words theory, adaptation are useful to explain a particular trait persisting for generation finally conclude a theory & hypothesis by scientists based on the phenotypic fitness during the evolution. Therefore, these are not applicable to public in the real life for normal conversation. The experimental hypothesis to test a theory for example, natural selection and evolution is mainly depending on the “genetic variations” occurring in the generation to generation due to genetic drift & mutations. These events are leading to adaptations in a public or population to acquire more biological and social fitness to survive and to struggle for existence. Therefore, indirectly scientists are going to use these terms to unravel scientific mechanisms for the evolution of public with differential traits
62. What are the important characteristics that distinguish Homo from Australopithecus; Hominins from other apes; and Homo sapiens from other Homo?
Ardipithecus ramidus is 4.4 million years ago and it has locomotor organs with bipedal property. It possesses a grasping hallux along with big toe and these features are predominantly adaptations for locomotion in the trees. Their habitat is near to forest including lakes, swamps and springs associated woodlands and grasslands. Biological and ecological adaptations include a better reproductive ability to sustain their race. They possess archaic features to lead their life along with predation.
They possess hard skeleton and possess reduced canine teeth. They usually communicated with Afar language. The brain size is smaller compared to apes and chimps and its size is about 300 and 350 cm3. The sexual dimorphism is mainly can be identified by the presence of upper canine teeth and males prominently possess larger and sharp upper teeth compared to females.
Homo neanderthal, Homo denisovans, and Homo sapiens or modern humans are considered that all these species have evolved from Homo heidelbergensis.
Homo sapiens possess distinctive characteristics with that of H. neanderthal, Homo denisovans 1. Homo sapiens possess smaller eyebrows compared to the above ancestral species. 2. Modern humans are taller and more gracile associated with flat face and protruding chin as well. 3. Homo sapiens possess considerably with more brain size compared H. neanderthalensis on average. Homo sapiens possess a high forehead, as well as flat face, and flat eye brows compared to Homo denisovans.
H neandertalensis has cranial capacity range 1200-1750 cm3 where as modern Homo sapiens’s cranial capacity is approximately 1700cm3
Therefore, the sinus arrangement in cranium & skull is similar to that of modern humans. The brain size is almost similar to modern humans. Cerebral space measurement of H. neandertalensis is similar to that of H. sapiens. Thickness of cranial bones of H neandertalensis (low vaulted cranium) is different to H sapiens but thick projecting supraorbitals were observed similar feature in H sapiens cranial morphology
A. afarensis fossil named as Lucy, who has ape features in having long arms than legs to climb on tress for arboreal life and possess cranial foramen features as apes; Lucy also possess relatively canines and molars with low size, but they are larger than in modern humans.
Homo habilis: This species is resembles A. afarensis and possess distinctive feature in having fore-to-hind limb joint size that is different to humans and Homo erectus.
Homo habilis has average nearly about 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) tall associated with lesser brain size compared to modern humans. The main trends in developing modern Homo including modern humans from Homo habilis are reduction in teeth size, jaw size and decrease face size finally became more gracile. The brain volume increased with higher intelligence to perform social tasks. The tool using technology first started with Homo habilis and increased to modern humans.
The brain size is smaller compared to apes and chimps and its size is about 300 and 350 cm3. The sexual dimorphism is mainly can be identified by the presence of upper canine teeth and males prominently possess larger and sharp upper teeth compared to females.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.