There are many reasons why people should believe in Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. One of the more compelling reasons is the anatomical similarities between different species. Still another reason to accept Darwin’s Theory is the geographic distribution of species, meaning that certain plants and animals have evolved in specific ways to meet the needs of their isolated environments. Another reason to support the theory of evolution is the fossil record of change over time throughout earlier species. Lastly, scientists have recorded genetic changes in a certain species over many generations which support Darwin’s Theory. Those changes indicate that evolution is occurring. For all those reasons, Darwin’s Theory of Evolution makes scientific sense and should be respected.
First off, there are many anatomical similarities between completely different species of organisms. One of the more well known similarities is that between apes and humans. Many people don’t accept this proposal as being true because it offends their religious or personal beliefs, but there do exist some very compelling facts to support the argument that mankind did in fact evolve from apes. The first similarity is that their overall size and general physical frame are quite alike. Another similarity is that both man and ape have a broad rib cage which extends past the vertebral column. What this means is that both humans and apes have rib cages that are slightly bigger than most mammals and which extend beyond their back bone, also known as the vertebral column. Yet another prominent similarity is that both have their scapulae located on their back, and their shoulder blades are located on their sides. These anatomical similarities are significan...
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...good sense and more people ought to open their minds to it and accept it as fact.
Works Cited
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Gray, Richard. "Missing Link between Man and Apes Found - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph Online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2011, 3 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 Mar. 2011. .
Dr. Goodall is a well-known British primatologist who has discovered a substantial amount about primates in her many years of research. She has written numerous books, including one that we will be going into depth about called, “Through a Window.” Her book contains personal experiences, research findings, and even pictures to help the readers visualize her scientific breaking moments from her thirty years with the chimpanzees of Gombe. She states that there is are minor differences, and several similarities between humans and the chimpanzees. We will discuss these differences and similarities through their social behavior, intellectual ability, and emotions. To conclude, examine Goodall’s research to adopt what her findings can tell us about our early ancestors, and whether or not her study coincided to the steps of scientific methodology.
This article, titled Common Ground, written by Barbara Smuts, points out the main differences between humans and apes, such as our upright stance, large brains, and capacity for spoken language and abstract reasoning. However, the main point of this article is to emphasize the many similarities that apes share with us. Smuts goes into great detail about how human social and emotional tendencies are very reflective in the family of apes.
...cientists explain it to happen from the research previously done and what humans know of it is that, it is too complex for average human knowledge to comprehend. Humans generally choose to believe what there is proof for and in the case of evolution there is none. Realistically the idea of evolution is too complex and the general public finds it improbable.
5 The Field Museum. (2002). New Species Clarifies Bird-Dinosaur Link. Science Daily [online], 14 Feb 2002. Available at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/02/020214080242.htm
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.
Humans know or understand the theory of evolution and how they evolved from apes, but there is always talk of a missing link between apes and modern humans. Apes did not just suddenly evolve into modern day humans. Apes evolved into another species that fall into the relation of modern humans. This is what the missing link is referring to; we call the species hominins. Hominins comprised of many species actually, including but not limited to, Australopithecus afarensis and Homo erectus. Homo erectus may have been a direct descendant of modern Homo sapiens. These species hold strong evidence that they are the missing link between apes and modern humans. There are many pieces of evidence that lay the path of evolution from these species to modern humans, “…these include anatomy, living primate behavior, and genetic relationships” (Stanford, 237). Australopithecus afarensis comes first, existing about 3.9 to 2.9 million years ago, with intermediate anatomical traits between living apes and modern humans; their fossils were found in Africa (Yukimoto). About a million to two million years later, the species Homo erectus came into existence and lots of evidence has been found about this particular species, in fact, it was probable that it was the first species to leave Africa (Yukimoto). These species are significant in the evolution of modern humans. We do not have a clear path or even understand why these species emerged when they did or how they, in theory, eventually evolved into modern humans. We can only assume these things, by using various evolutionary processes such as natural selection, genetic bottleneck, and many more.
One question that has stumped many paleontologists for centuries is, “Are birds dinosaurs?” Paleontologists have argued back and forth trying to prove or disprove each side of the theory. So far, advocates have supported their side through the facts of similar bone structures, bone organization, and the idea that dinosaurs had feathers. A common reaction that some people might have about the question is that there is no connection between the two species. Their main reasoning for this conclusion is based on the belief that the two do not have any similar characteristics. I too believed that there was no correlation between the two animals. However, after extensive research, I have completely changed my mind. I believe that birds are dinosaurs because they have similar bone structures, and they both possess feathers.
Before any sort of discussion on the debate of what M. gui implies, however, the details of this odd reptile’s discovered fossils should be given. Through past research and findings, the leading theory on the origin of birds traces them back to dinosaurs, more specifically a type of bipedal dinosaur called theropods. Within this group of mostly carnivorous dinosaurs are the dromaeosaurids, and they specifically are believed to be the closest dinosaur ancestors of birds.
Primates are considered to be one of the most interesting mammals on earth to study due to their numerous similarities with humans and their complexities in life. Today we look at primates as our closest relatives, meaning that observations and research will not only give us information about non-human primates, but human primates as well. There were many primates to choose from, though I decided to observe two types of primates, the Western Lowland Gorilla, and the Tufted Capuchin Monkey. Both species of primates were observed at the San Diego Zoo. With my research, I will collect data from my observations, give background information from credible sources, and explain the interactions I encountered while observing the two different primates. Before attempting to understand ourselves and other species as primates, it is important to understand that scientific research is the basis for determining our origins as primates, understanding certain species of primates, and why we consider primates to be our closest ancestor.
Primates are characterized by their unique characteristics, behaviors, and features. This is also why humans are considered to be a primate. With the human evolution researchers are able to find these common similarities. And even though chimpanzees have a very close body type and size they also have some differences. Researchers have found all these results by studying non-primates many different way in the non-primate own environment. With these results and studies it proves the facts that humans are indeed primates.
Apes, like humans, are catarrhines and part of the superfamily hominoidea. Apes started to appear in the Miocene about 20 million years ago(lecture notes, week 10), under this category there are many primates that are distinguished as apes, such as, orangutans, gibbons, chimpanzees, and gorillas. These particular primates are from the old world and are native to Africa and Asia. Apes can be distinguished by the foramen magnum towards the back of the skull, having no tail, and having a hook nose (Larsen 2013, p. 150). Another characteristic of apes is that they have large brains for their body size, this is important because it shows they have a higher intelligence than other animals, and this can be connected to the relationship shared with humans.
It is said that the humanoid existence begins in Africa. It is no coincidence that Africa is also the home to Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, and Bonobos, Pan paniscus. These are humans’ two closest living relatives, both sharing almost 99% of the human genome through common descent. While humans were said to have separated from Chimpanzees around 5-7 million years ago , Bonobos separated from its Chimp cousins around 2 million years ago . Bonobos inhabit a single part of Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo South of the Congo River, unlike the Chimpanzee, which inhabits Across West- and Central Africa, with remaining populations distributed over several countries. While these two apes where once thought to be the same species, up until the beginning of the 20th century , there are many differences socially, as well as physically, that make Bonobos more than a Pygmy Chimp. With disparities in morphology, behavior, perhaps even emotions and cognition, and known as the “make love, not war chimp” , how can this ape be so vastly different from its notoriously violent Pan cousin, but yet share the same amount of similar DNA to Homo sapiens? And what does this mean for the studies of human and past humanoid behavior?
The evolution of man is constantly in question. While we are reasonably sure that modern humans and primates are both related to the same common ancestor, there is constant debate over what initially caused the two species to split into early hominids and apes. According to some, our longest and most popular theory on the division of man and ape is profoundly wrong. However, those same individuals usually offer an equally controversial theory as a substitute, one that is almost impossible to scientifically test or prove. Both the Savanna Theory and the Aquatic Ape Theory offer solutions to how and why humans evolved into bipedal toolmakers. But with enough questioning, each loses its accountability to rhetorical science.
Some may confuse our past ancestors with those of chimps or other apes. However, It is not accurate to say we evolved from chimps, for chimps and human both evolved from Miocene apes, until we split directions in evolution. Our last common ancestor portrayed traits from both chimps and humans. It walked on all fours, ate fruit,used tools, and held a complex “dynamic social group,” just as humans and chimps do. It is accurately to say human and chimps have overlapping traits and share a common ancestor. Our common ancestor being Miocene
On Darwin’s trip around the world he found something very interesting on the Galapagos Islands. On the isolated islands he found fourteen species of finches with very similar characteristics but they had some differences in their beaks, diet, body size and habitat. Darwin thought the birds had a common ancestor. He thought that some time back some finches arrived on the islands and the finches with the beaks that suited the islands conditions survived this happened on all the islands. When they had offspring the next generation would inherit the same beak. This is a great example of natural selection which was a contributor to how humans evolved. From this Darwin established his theory of natural selection and how slowly over time creatures...