Role of Hypotheses within Scientific Discoveries and Explanations - Essay Example

The author illustrates his stand with examples of the theories surrounding the evolution of man by starting with the rather shocking theory that we all as humans originate from the continent of Africa

2. Why do you think this topic is important to physical/biological anthropology?

 This topic is very important to biological and physical anthropology because it explains why we are all so different racially and genetically and seeks to explain with the help of many theories whether Darwin’s theory is right in saying that as humans we have only recently evolved from apes. He compares the “originate in Africa thesis” with the “out of Africa thesis” where he is trying to explain the origin of our genetics and evolution.

3. What specific evidence, facts, and/or examples did the author(s) offer to support their argument?

The author uses the technique of taking up many hypotheses and theories and assessing their truth and in the end, he gives his verdict in favor of the theory given by Darwin, the  Out of Africa hypothesis.

“ This theory maintains that modern humans evolved in Africa and then spread around the world. Boiled down to its essence, the hypothesis states that modern humans are both relatively recent (100,000 to 200,000 years old) and African in origin. A major prediction of this hypothesis is that the earliest remains of modern humans will be found in Africa, dated to an appropriate period.”

 The author goes on to discuss the “ Multiregional hypothesis” which he argues depicts that we as modern humans evolved from different locations and hence our racial and genetic differences. According to this school of thought

“these regional populations evolved along parallel paths and reached modernity at roughly the same time. Because the populations were largely isolated from one another, they developed distinctive regional features, which people recognize today as "racial" differences.” ( Multiregionalists believe that Neandertals, originate from the European continent.)

He then goes on to say how there are three different  recent types of research that go in favor of the Darwinian view  and oppose the Multiregionalists view which he addresses one by one as:

• The East African population is so diverse that the  genetic composition of the population" shows that these lineages are very diverse and

humans did evolve from these areas.Most of the world's oldest lineages were found there d 170,000 years ago.

• Secondly because of  the discovery of the “African Herto skulls…………the Herto specimens (are) the earliest modern Homo sapiens yet found—direct ancestors of people living today.”
• He concludes that the  Neandertals’ DNA was not closer to that of the modern Europeans. “The work was a strong blow to the theory that humans evolved in several places simultaneously. “Neandertals cannot represent a regional European transition from Homo erectus to modern Homo sapiens”

4. Did the author address any contrary evidence or the opinions/work of others that run counter the author(s) claims?

Although he devotes his entire discussion to proving the multiregionalists wrong he does refer to the possibility of “ mtDNA contamination from researchers or others who have handled the fossils” but he is quick to provide evidence to suggest otherwise. He does give the multiregional theory its fair share of discussion though.

5. What were the strengths and/or weaknesses of the author(s) argument?

 The author should have discussed the possibility of the multiregional theory being true as well in the light of research like he discussed the Africa theory. That would have given the readers a fair chance to weigh both theories. However, he does make some interesting points about the Darwinian notion being more realistic.

6. What are your conclusions? Do you agree or disagree with the author? Why?

 I feel the theory of all humans originated from Africa is absurd to be very honest. I would agree more with the multiregional theory. The author's idea is just like saying that all cats are from Persia and all dogs are from Germany. Just like all the animals did not start from a single location, neither do I think the humans could do so. The genetic and anthropological differences are too intense for me to believe in this theory even though I find the evidence provided very compelling. But like the author said not all hypotheses are true or should be believed.