BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL EVOLUTION:

FROM HOMO HABILIS TO HOMO SAPIENS

BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
It refers to the changes, modifications, and variations in the
genetics and inherited traits of biological populations from one
generation to another.
Scientists study the changes in the physical body of humans,
the changes in the shape and size of their bones.
CULTURAL EVOLUTION
It refers to the changes or development in cultures from a
simple form to a more complex form of human culture.
Scientist study the cultural evolution of humans by analyzing
the changes in the latter’s way of life.
CHARLES Darwin
- was a British naturalist who proposed the
theory of biological evolution by natural selection. Darwin
defined evolution as "descent with modification," the idea that
species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a
common ancestor
NATURAL SELECTION
- The reason for occurrence of evolution.
- The outcome processes that affect the frequencies of traits in a
particular environment.
- Traits that enhance survival and reproductive success increase
in frequency over time.
NATURAL SELECTION:
THREE PRINCIPLES
1. Variations
- Every species is made up of a variety of individuals wherein
some are adopted to their environments compared to others
2. Heritability
- Organisms produce progeny with different sets of traits that can be
inherited
3. Differential reproductive success
- Organisms that have traits most suitable to their environment will
survive and transfer these variations to their offspring in subsequent
generations

HOMINIDS
- The general term used to categorize the group of early humans
and other humanlike creatures that can walk erect during the
prehistoric period.
CATEGORIES OF HOMINIDS
1. Sahelanthropus
2. Australopithecus
3. Ardipithecus
4. Homo
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SAHELANTHROPUS
1. It had both apelike and humanlike characteristics:
- A skull similar to Australopithecus and modern human
- Height almost similar to a chimpanzee
- Brain size : 320 – 380 cc
- Small teeth
- Had the ability to walk upright
ARTHIPEDECUS
- “ ape on the ground “
- Height about 4 ft.
- Weigh about 120 pounds
- Skull size similar to an ape
- Small brain
- Biped
- Lived in jungles and forests like chimpanzees
AUSTRALOPITHECUS
- The southern Ape
- One of the longest-lived and best-known early human species
HOMO
- They are classified as humans and not humanlike creatures
because they had bigger brains and were bipedal.
HOMO HABILIS
- 3-4 FEET
- Brain size: 700 cc
HOMO ERGASTER
- lived between 1.5 and 1.9 million years ago
- generally tall and slender
- first of our ancestors to look more like modern humans.
HOMO ERECTUS
- Large Brain
- size: 1,000cc
- Lived in shelters
- Food gatherers
- Crafted materials
PEKING MAN
- lived between 750,000 and 200,000 years ago.
- had heavy brows and large, chinless jaws
- having a large brain, skull, and bone sizes
HOMO SAPIENS
- ‘Cro-Magnon Man’ is commonly used for the modern humans
that inhabited Europe from about 40,000 to 10,000 years ago.
- All people living today belong to the species Homo sapiens. We
evolved only relatively recently but with complex culture and
technology have been able to spread throughout the world and
occupy a range of different environments.