Biological Basis for Society and Culture
Classification of Human Beings
Animalia
Chordata (Vertebrata)
Mammalia
Primates
Anthropoidea
Hominidae
Homo
sapiens
Evolutionary Issues
How old are humans?
How many evolutionary steps are we away from the oldest hominids?
Where did humans originate?
When did they get where they are now? How did they?
How different are the various human groups today? In early times?
The great migrations of our species originated in Africa.
Evolution
Mechanisms of biological evolution:
1. natural selection
2. mutation
3. genetic drift
Modern genetics has confirmed the observational basis of Darwin’s
theory.
Archeological and linguistic data supplement genetics.
Physical Characteristics of Homo sapiens
1. Large brain-providing intellectual and nervous efficiency
2. Erect bipedalism- walking upright; this has entailed changes
in the structure of feet, cranium, pelvis, and face
3. Prehensile hands- great manual dexterity due to digits and
opposable thumb
4. Diet and dentition- based on eating of meat, along with a
large variety of other items.
5. Reduced body hair- the process by which this occurs is called
fetalization
6. Menstruation instead of estrus cycle
7. Senses: stereoscopic color vision (depth perception with
both eyes), good hearing and tactile senses; good taste, poor
smell, good kinesthetic sense (balance and equilibrium)
8. Vocal communication
9. Generalized from rather than specialized
10. Important changes in musculoskeletal, neurological and behavioral
characteristics from other primates.
11. Fairly standardized life cycle and maximum life expectancy
12. Reduced sexual dimorphism
There are more, but this is a pretty good list. Humans are the most prolific tool makers and users. Can we relate these features to social/cultural characteristics and institutions? Yes, if they ...
Provide adaptation(s) to the environment,
Promote collective and individual survival (i.e., reproductive
fitness),
Allow for both continuity and change,
Support hypothesis of dispersal and diversification of species,
Are consistent with archaeological evidence.
SSC 101 Lecture Notes