Homo Habilis: The Evolution Of Human Evolution

Are we still evolving? How do humans and apes share a common ancestor? Modern human species or Homo sapiens have shown great similarities in the physical and genetic makeup to another group primates species, the apes. Both organisms share a common ancestor dating back eight to six million years ago. Evolution means change over time. Human evolution is the process by which humans have emerged from apelike ancestors. Through sequences of mutations, genetic drift, migration, and natural selection and technology we are able to observe the amazing amount of similarities and diversity of humans to other living organisms. Humans have roamed the earth for about six million years. At least, that is from when the oldest human ancestor was discovered.

Approximately two million years, exceedingly evolved Australopithecines made their priority to impact their environment. They made tools and started to use resources. The age of Homo Habilis has begun. They are the earliest known members of the Homo genus. They were found in Africa. Homo Habilis brains were 50% larger than Australopithecus, they were taller, hairless face, and flatter nostrils. They became omnivores. They were the first to discover that meat was edible. Scavenging for dead meat was added to their diets. This is known because of their teeth. Homo Habilis had developed mature incisors, which are used for shredding chunks of meat. Wisdom teeth were also developed for chewing meat. The most fundamental development in Homo Habilis is language. Containing larger cerebral cortex than their ancestors, they developed the abilities in thinking, reasoning, and memory. They also hunted, which was a group activity because it requires precision, accuracy, planning, and silence. As a result, they probably developed hand signals and facial expressions which granted meaning for use in hunting parties; this could have been the first symbolic communication. As the Homo Habilis grasped more of this communications the signals became more complex. As a result, hands signals were developed to represent abstract concepts like good or evil. Furthermore, the hand signals organized and unified with sounds to produce a simplistic form of language. This form of communication along with tools and resources have become the foundations of an advanced culture. Homo Habilis were unendingly bipedal, thus, losing their ability to climb. Their brow ridge and the beginnings of the chin were gone. Homo Habilis were about four feet fall on average. The most complex toll made by them was the chopper, which later advanced into the axe. Homo Habilis ruled over Africa until about 1.6 million years, when Homo Erectus surfaced,