Evolution of the Genus Homo - Case Study Example

Evolution of the genus Homo Evolution of the genus homo Introduction The genus Homo has several features that identify it such as a larger brain, particularly when compared to the earlier Australopithecus. Further, the jaws and face of the Homo are reduced and tinier than the jaws and face of the Australopithecus. This genus also depends more heavily on material culture or cultural adaptation for existence. Such material culture is inclusive of the stone tools, which associate with all Homo species.

Hunting and use of fire is also a common culture among this genus. In general, they demonstrate behavioral flexibility and the capability to adjust to several circumstances. The transition from early Homo to Homo erectus The Homo habilis were the earliest of the genus Homo. The transition from Homo habilis to erectus came along with some cultural and physical changes (Grine & Fleagle, 2009).Their body size increased considerably, most likely due to the climate changes and a higher intake of protein from meat.

Further, their body proportions were altered, arm length reduced, and the length of legs increased to mirror a more contemporary form of bipedalism. Homo erectus brains were larger reflecting greater intelligence, which enabled them to use refined tools or the Acheulian tools. Such tools were for scavenging and hunting. Homo erectus were the first species to move out of Africa, with their fossil remains discovered in Europe and Asia, showing that this migration came shortly after their first appearance.

This can be dated between 1.8 million and a million B.C. They were capable of some speech, although not close to modern language and likely had no grammar. Generally, Homo erectus are often said to have existed until up to 250,000 B.C, and its fossils dated as late as 10,000 B.C. (Nunn, 2011). The transition from Homo erectus to Homo neanderthalensis The species that existed between approximately 500,000 and after 100,000 B.C are referred to as “archaic Homo sapiens,” a transitional process from the Homo erectus.

The “archaic Homo sapiens” existed in Africa, parts of Asia like China, and Germany and Belgium in Europe. They could deal with cold better that the rectus. Several names have been identified with these transitional forms, usually in relation to where the fossils were discovered. However, the Homo neanderthalensis or the Neanderthals who were the cold-adapted European varieties of the archaic Homo sapiens, were the dominant ones (Grine & Fleagle, 2009). The question of how precisely to classify the Neanderthals relates to the mater of whether they had the ability to interbreed with modern Homo sapiens.

Thus, to refer to them as Homo sapiens neanderthalensis would mean that they could interbreed as with this identification they would be a couple of races of a similar species. Currently, consensus maintains that the Neanderthals did not show a large-scale level of interbreeding with the Homo sapiens. The Neanderthals existed approximately between 250,000 to 25,000 B.C depending on the fossil classification (Nunn, 2011).They leaved in caves, open sites, and shelters. They used fire for warming themselves, cooking, lighting, and keeping away predators.

Neanderthals remains indicate that they were successful hunters who used bows and arrows. They were also capable of eloquent speech with a sense of shared care giving and cooperation that demonstrated a higher degree of communication among them. Most importantly, the Neanderthals buried their dead in flexed positions. References Grine, F & Fleagle, J. (2009). The first humans: Origin and early evolution of the genus homo. New York, NY: Springer Publishers. Nunn, C. (2011). The comparative approach in evolutionary anthropology and biology.

Chicago: University of Chicago Press.