Intro Hum Pal 1

8/8/2019 Intro Hum Pal 1

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Teaching Assistant - Lab Schedule - Rules

Arika Ward: [email protected]

Lab Hours : T 6-8 pm; W 6-8 pm

Or anytime the lab is not in use see Dr. Smith or secretariesin department office (SCH 332)

Honor system handle material carefully, put everything backwhere you found it, dont bring others into lab withoutpermission, dont take anything out of the lab, keep the labneat.

Dont brag to everyone that you know where all the coolbones are!


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Smiths Summary Class Evaluation


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Paleoanthropology

study of human evolution several disciplines

paleolithic archaeology earliest evidence of humancultural behavior

molecular biology genetics comparative anatomy morphology

paleoenvironments

primate behavior

chronology

but the key discipline is


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Human Paleontology

Scientific study of the fossil record pertinent tothe origin and evolution of humans (hominins) -

and the processes and principles that apply tothat study


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Three Epochs of Geological Time

Miocene (23.5 5.2

million years ago mya):

(1) origin and radiation of

apes Age of Apes; (2)possible earliest hominins

Sahelanthropus ~7mya

Orrorin ~ 6mya

SahelanthropusOrorrin

Dryopithecus


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Pliocene (5.2 1.75

mya): (1) origin and

radiation of

Australopithecus andrelated forms; (2) origin

of the genus Homo

Sterkfontein

Hadar

Hadar

Koobi Fora


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Pleistocene (1.75

0.012 mya [12,000]):

(1) terminal

australopithecines; (2)radiation ofHomo; (3)

origin of modern

people

HertoQafzeh

Koobi Fora

Olduvai Gorge

Petralona

La Ferrassie


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New Data

Partial skeleton of

Ardipithecus ramidus

from Aramis, Ethiopia

4.4 mya (million years

ago)

Further bridges the

morphologies of

Miocene apes and the

australopithsARAVP-6/500


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New Data

Malapa, South Africa

1.9 mya site 2 partial

skeletons more to be

excavated

new species

Australopithecus sebida

claimed to be transitionalto Homo


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New Data

Gona Pelvis - Ethiopia

Busidima Formation

Site: 0.9-1.4 mya Pelvic inlet (birth canal) bigger

than Lucy or the Nariokotome

Erectine male

Very broad bi-iliac breadth

different fromN

ariokotome Questions tropical trunk form

indicated by Nariokotome


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New Data

North Sea Neandertal

Further indications that

Neandertals lived

farther north than

previously thought


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New Data

Neandertal genome

Specific analyses show

Neandertals: 1. had very

small population size; 2.were lightly pigmented with

presence of light hair; 3.

likely had modern language

capabilities.

Neandertals contributed at

least 1-4% of modern

western Eurasian gene pool


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Paleoanthropology

Chronology Cartmill & Smith pp. 4-13:

Review: relative vs. absolute dating;radiopotassium and fission track dating

Paleolithic Archaeology later

Comparative biology (anatomy, molecularbiology) among living (extant) organisms


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Superfamily Families Genus (Genera)

Hominoidea

Hominidae

Pongidae

(Great Apes)

Hylobatidae(LesserApes)

Homo

Pan

Gorilla

Pongo

Hylobates

Dendrogram Traditional Ape Taxonomy

(Comparative Anatomy)


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Molecular Biology (Genetics)

Example: beta-globin gene

cluster (handout)

African great apes = distinct

cluster. Orangutans?

Pan (chimps & bonobos)

closer to humans than to

gorillas

Traditional taxonomy of

apes is not correct


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Molecular Ape Taxonomy

Superfamily Hominoidea (hominoids)

Families Hylobatidae (lesser apes)

Hominidae (hominids)all great apes

Subfamilies Ponginae Genus: Pongo

orangutans

Gorillinae Genus: Gorillagorillas

Homininae Genus: Pan

chimpanzees, bonobos

Genus: Homo


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Molecular Ape Taxonomy

Subfamily: Homininae

Tribes: Panini Genus: Pan

Hominini Genus: Homo(hominins)


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HylobatidaeHylobates

Hominidae

Ponginae

Gorillinae

Homininae

Panini

Hominini

Pongo

Gorilla

Pan

Homo

Superfamily Families Subfamilies Tribes Genera

Dendrogram Molecular Ape Taxonomy

Cartmill & Smith p. 90


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Use of Molecular and Anatomical Data on

Extant Organisms

Establish hypotheses (hypothesis)

Test hypotheses by the fossil record

Establishing and testing hypotheses = basis ofscience


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Paleontology

study of fossils

Ernst Mayr science that deals with the life of

past geological periods FHS science concerned with:

-- reconstruction of lineages,

-- understanding the nature ofrelationships within & among lineages,

-- based on the fossil record (primarily)


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Paleontology

Pan troglodytes Homo sapiens

Lineage line of descent (ancestor-descendant relation-

ships

PO

1. Reconstruction of lineages

2. Understanding the nature of relationships

within & among lineages

3. Based primarily on the fossil record


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Paleontology

Pan troglodytes Homo sapiens

Lineage line of descent (ancestor-descendant relation-

ships

PO

Documentation vs. Explanation

Limitations: Practical & Theoretical


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Practical Limitations

1. Incomplete biological data skeletal

elements & what can be derived from them

2. Fragmentation, incompleteness & distortionof fossils: Example 1 Australopithecus

bahrelghazali. 3-3.5 mya Chad. Is it a

different species orA. afarensis ?

Anterior mandible with symphysis


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1. Incomplete biological data skeletal

elements & what can be derived from them

2. Fragmentation, incompleteness & distortionof fossils: Example 2 Sahelanthropus

tchadensis: ~ 7 mya Chad. Single cranium.

Reconstructed (right) and unreconstructed


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Sahelanthropus tchadensis


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3. Inadequate sample

sizes. Example 2

Gorillas

Gorilla gorilla


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4. Inadequate chronology

5. Inadequate knowledge of paleoecology

6. Gaps in fossil record-- temporal gaps Example: African

hominoid fossil record between 12 & 4 mya

-- geographical gaps Example: distributionof australopithecines


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Australopithecine Distribution


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Theoretical Limitations

Paleontology = historical science

Reconstruct complex events that occurred in the

past. Cant go back in time and observe events

Cant duplicate events experimentally

Physics envy


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Indirect evidence:

Comparative anatomy

Comparative molecular biology Fossil record

Ancient DNA


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Indirect evidence:

Comparative anatomy

Comparative molecular biology Fossil record

Ancient DNA Less Indirect


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SCIENCE

Based on two principles:

Falsification Karl Popper. Must be able to

construct testable hypotheses Replication experimentation vs.

observation.

Example: Role ofAustralopithecus afarensis

(East Africa 4.2 2.8 mya)

Documents

Intro Hum Pal 1