Lesson 2: Biological and
Cultural Evolution:
From Australopithecus to
Homo Sapiens
Biological Evolution
• It refers to the changes,
modifications,
and variations in the
genetics and inherited
traits of biological
populations from one
generation to another.
• Scientists study the
changes in the physical
body of humans, the
changes in the shape
and size of their bones.
Cultural Evolution
• It refers to the changes or
development in
cultures from a simple
form to a more complex
form of human culture.
• Scientist study the
cultural evolution
humans by analyzingof
the changes in the
latter’s way of life.
• The evolution of species happens through the
process of natural selection.
• The reason for occurrence of evolution.
• The outcome processes that affect the
frequencies of traits in a particular
environment. Traits that enhance survival and
reproductive success increase in
frequency over time.
Variations
• Every species is made up of a variety of
individuals wherein some are
adopted to their environments
compared to others
Heritability
• Organisms produce progeny
with different sets of traits that can be
inherited.
Differential reproductive success
• Organisms that have most
suitable to traits their
environment will
survive and transfer these variations to
their in subsequent
Generations
offspring
HOMINIDS
• The general term used to categorize the
group of early and other
humans
humanlike creatures that can
erect during the prehistoric walk
period.
Four Categories of Hominids
1. 3.
Sahelanthropus Australopithecus
2.
Ardipithecus 4. HOMO
1. Sahelanthropus
tchadensis
6-7 million years ago
• It had both apelike and
humanlike characteristics:
1. A skull similar to
Australopithecus and
modern human.
2. Height almost similar with the
chimpanzee
3. Brain size: 320-380 cc
4. Small teeth
5. Had the ability to walk upright
Orrorin
Ardipithecus
tugenensis
5.7 million years ago 5.6 million years ago
Ardipithecus “ape on the ground”
Ardipithecus Ardipithecus
Kadabba Ramidus
• 1. height about 4 feet
• 2. weight about 120 pounds
• 3. skull size similar to an ape
• 4. Small brain
• 5. Biped
• 6. lived in jungles and forests like chimpanzees
3.Australopithecus
(5 million- 1million
years ago)
“the Southern
Ape”
Characteristics
1. Brain size: 500 cc or almost 1/3 size of the
modern human brain
2. Upright
3. Biped
4. Tool users not tool makers
5. Food scavengers
• There are 6 species of the Australopithecus
and they are divided into two major
categories:
Gracile Australophitecus
-Australophitecus afarensis
Australophitecus anamensis
-Australophitecus africanus
Australopithecus
Afarensis
Considered as one of modern human’s earliest ancestors and
remains as the most famous hominid fossil discovered
Robust Australophitecus
Australophitecus aethiopicus
Australophitecus robustus
Australophitecus boisei
HOMO
• They are classified as humans and not
humanlike creatures because they had bigger
brains and were bipedal
HOMO HABILIS
• 3-4 FEET
• Brain size: 700 cc
HOMO ERECTUS
• Large Brain size:
1,000cc
• Lived in shelters
• Food gatherers
• Crafted
materials
Peking Man
HOMO SAPIENS
• .Homo sapiens
• Cro - Magnon
Neanderthalensis
