Head To Hand Ratio Lab Report

679 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Evolution of animals essay

In many species, the offspring are just smaller versions of the adult species. However, in humans drastic growth is observed. Newborn humans, as compared to adults, are helpless when they are born. In other mammals, the offspring are born ready to go off into the world. Humans must go through many changes in size and stature before they can fend for themselves. In this experiment, the group measured the different ratios of human body parts. The results were measured by using yardsticks and comparing the measurements to those of a newborn child. The group hypothesized that if humans are allometric, then the head to hand ratio would be different, and if humans are isometric, then the head to wingspan ratio would be the same.The experiment showed …show more content…

The wingspan ratio for the adults was roughly 1:1. In isometry, it states that the body parts must be proportionate. This shows that in relation to the head to wingspan ratio, humans are nearly isometric.
The height to hand ratio for adults was nearly 1:9. The height to hand ratio for the adults was almost a 1:8 ratio. For a human to be allometric, the body parts must be shown to not be proportionate. Thus, the observations show that the height to hand ratio is definitely allometric.
Discussion
The results support the hypotheses with moderate success. If humans are isometric, then the height to wingspan ratio will remain proportionate as shown in the data. If humans are allometric, then the head to hand ratio will change drastically. In future studies it would be an improvement to include a larger subject size for more accuracy. While this could conclude that humans are mostly isometric, there is a lot of room for error. The test could be expanded to include other mammals or species of animals. The differences between isometry and allometry might be a factor in determining how humans have evolved through

Show More
Related

  • Proof that Humans Interbred with Neanderthals

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    The skull analysis of Neanderthals and Homo sapiens are usually considered more accurate if the entire skull is examined, rather than certain ... ... middle of paper ... ... ated form” (IBT, 1). To figure things like this out and prove it, regions of genomes are compared with entire genomes. Before we are able to judge the human origins model, we need to be able to understand the coding of genes for traits of being human, etc.

    Read More

  • Quadrapedalism

    503 Words  | 2 Pages

    5.) Primates and all mammals share a series of characteristics such as: body hair, long gestation and live birth, mammary glands, different types of teeth, ability to maintain a constant body temperature, increased brain size and a considerable capacity for learning. Scientists created a special order called primates, because they share many characteristics unique to their order: a tendency toward erect posture, a flexible, generalized limb structure, hands and feet w/ a high degree of apprehensibility, retention of 5 digits on hands and feet, an opposable thumb, nails instead

    Read More

  • The Evolution of the Giraffe Neck

    1158 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... This is shown through the way that the animals feed and the disproportionate increase in neck length compared to other components within the giraffe. The evidence presented in this case offers much more support for the idea that sexual selection is responsible. However, much more investigation must take place in order for the theory to be considered acceptable.

    Read More

  • Australopithecus Afarensis

    608 Words  | 2 Pages

    Australopithecus afarensis existed between 3.9 and 3.0 million years ago. The distinctive characteristics of A. afarensis were: a low forehead, a bony ridge over the eyes, a flat nose, no chin, more humanlike teeth, pelvis and leg bones resembled those of modern man. Females were smaller than males. Their sexual dimorphism was males:females; 1.5. A. afarensis was not as sexually dimorphic as gorillas, but more sexually dimorphic than humans or chimpanzees. A lot of scientists think that Australopithecus afarensis was partially adapted to climbing the trees, because the fingers and toe bones of the species were curved and longer than the ones of the modern human.

    Read More

  • Neanderthals

    1506 Words  | 4 Pages

    Most of their evidence comes from the fossilized bones of Neanderthals and Cro- Magnons, or modern man’s ancestors (Shreeve, 150). There is a definite difference between their bone structures, and it may be a significant enough difference to divide them into species. There is a set of traits that distinguishes Neanderthals. Their general proportions are short, robust, and strong. Males and females of all ages have thick bones, and very pronounced muscle and ligament attachment sites. They also have distinct facial and cranial features. They have a large skull with no chin, a significant brow-ridge, and a large nasal opening (Shreeve, 49-150). They have large brains, around 1400cc, that protrude in the back, causing an occipital bun in the skull (Lecture, 4/19). Cro-Magnons on the other hand look more like humans do today. They are more slender and not as muscular, with chins and rounder skulls with slightly smaller brains among other traits.

    Read More

  • Sexual Dimorphism and Human Evolution

    2397 Words  | 5 Pages

    World Archaeology, 31:3:329-350. Mitani, J.C. et al 1996 Sexual Dimorphism, the Operational Sex Ratio, and the Intensity of Male Competition in Polygamous Primates. The American Naturalist, 147:6:966-980. Rogers, Alan R. and Arindam Mukherjee 1992 Quantitative Genetics of Sexual Dimorphism in Human Body Size.

    Read More

  • What Makes Us Human?

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    ... drawn. What makes us human? Through the examination of human evolution, both biological adaptations and cultural adaptations which are distinct to humans can be recognized. Biologically speaking, humans are unique in that they are bipedal, they have larger brain sizes, and longer leg length. When examining the cultural evolution of humans we have a complex language system, we live in communities, engage in symbolic behavior, and act through emotional impulses. While we are often considered to be superior to all other animals, it is important to recognize that while we are animals, we have very distinct characteristics and adaptations that separate us both biologically and culturally from all other animals.

    Read More

  • Evolution of the Human Diet

    3413 Words  | 7 Pages

    The members of the Homo genus possess a combination of unique features that distinguish them from other related species. At the time that each respective species was alive, they were able to walk upright on two legs, use their large brains for the benefit of their species, and could thrive in many geographically and climatically diverse areas of the world. One of the most mysterious quandaries in science is how the lineage of the Homo genus became so different from their primate relatives. Bipedalism, brain size, and location diversity all have a common link that may explain this difference – dietary evolution allowed humans to adapt to their surroundings, and in turn, become a more advanced species. The Homo diet evolved in relation to food availability and nutritional necessity. With the ability to maintain a proper diet, the species of the Homo genus were able to flourish and advance toward the development of modern Homo sapiens.

    Read More

  • Biological Psychology

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    The comparative method is a species that can be studied and compared to the search of understanding human behavior. The physiological outlook elucidate the performance of how the nervous system and hormones reacts to the body, what precedent of the transformations in the structure can affect one’s behavior, and how the brain operates. For example, when a cardiologist operate on someone’s heart. He has the expectation of extending that individual's life (Thomas Spray). Another comparative method utilized is the investigation of inheritance. This technique engages a species inheriting genes from its parents. For instance, when the offspring with dark skin complexion begat blue eyes this trait is hereditary. Each of these biological aspects consisting of the comparative, physiological and the genetic systems explicates human behavior. This dissertation will focus on the brain, the nervous system, and the ways in which these physiological mechanisms interrelate.

    Read More

  • The Shaft Graves of Mycenae

    763 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adult skeletons from both circles seem to be in the higher height range with thicker bones and suffered less from arthritis, though males often suffered from some trauma, such as head wounds. . This ...

    Read More

  • Growth Spurts Research Paper

    762 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hormones caused by puberty and sexual maturation causing the growth spurt initiate the adolescent life stage. This period lasts between 5 to 10 years in humans (Bogin. B, 2010). The growth spurt is in both height and weight and in these peak velocities can show the differences amongst species. At a peak velocity it in fact females who are heavier than males, which is different from primates where the reverse is so (Leigh. S, 1996). Although Leigh (1996) argues that in terms of mass when accounting for variables such as body size the differences in mass are less distinctive. Bogin (1999) however argues that in terms of skeletal growth in height as a unique human characteristic. Females are also reaching a peak velocity at relatively earlier times compared to males. The most distinctive feature separating humans is the time scale in which the growth spurts occur in comparison to mammal counterparts. This is most likely due to the delay of human growth by the addition of childhood and adolescent growth

    Read More

  • Babies and iPads--a Bad Combination

    886 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tanner, J. M. Fetus into Man: Physical Growth from Conception to Maturity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1989. 105. Print.

    Read More

  • During Middle Childhood Children

    406 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the ‘tween years, an average 2-3 inch height increase per year is expected. During this period of time, girls on average are 4’10” and boys are 4’9.5” tall. Subsequently, the weight of boys and girls follows the same pattern of girls

    Read More

  • Human Evolution

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    The increase in brain size may be related to changes in hominine behavior (See figure 3). The third major trend in hominine development is the gradual decrease in the size of the face and teeth. According to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia ’98, the fossil evidence for direct ancestors of modern humans is divided into the category Australopithecus and Homo, and begins about 5 million years ago (See figure 1). Between 7 and 20 million years ago, primitive apelike animals were widely distributed on the African and, later, on the Eurasian continents (See figure 2). Although many fossil bones and teeth have been found, the way of life of these creatures, and their evolutionary relationships to the living apes and humans, remain matters of active discussion among scientists.

    Read More

  • Essay On Homo Erectus

    1493 Words  | 3 Pages

    Homo erectus is also known for its larger body compared to earlier ancestors. "Past estimates of Homo erectus stature frequently were in the 5-5 1/2 feet (152-168 cm) range for adult males and arou...

    Read More

More about Head To Hand Ratio Lab Report

Open Document