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... uil ding blocks of the development of new species. The majority of mutations tend to create adverse traits, such as, albinism. Albinism is a mutation that contains mutant genes, which lack the ability to generate normal skin pigment. Animals and plants, which contain the albinism gene, are unable to survive and reproduce as much and as well as the animals and plants without the albinism gene. Thus stating, that organisms with a mutant gene, will be unable to survive and reproduce as well as the organisms without a mutant gene.
On the contrary, many unfavorable genes are eliminated by natural selection because most of the organisms containing the unfavorable genes will die before they are able to reproduce. On the other hand, some mutations benefit organisms in adapting better to their existing environment. For example, a plant in a dry climate may contain a mutant gene, which enables its roots to grow longer and deeper that its surrounding plants. As a result, the plant has a better chance for survival and more reproduction because its roots are able to extend deeper into the soil and collect water.
The favorable mutations create the aspects for evolutionary change. The distinct qualities and features of the Homo sapiens have appalled anthropologists. Examples of these special qualities and features of the Homo sapiens, which have appalled anthropologists, are features such as language, high technological skills, and the ability to make ethical judgements. Despite these qualities, the most significant and most recent quality, is the Homo sapiens connection with the African apes is practically the same. "The cradle of mankind... , " as Darwin said, .".. was Africa. " Darwin also stated, " In each great region of the world, the living mammals are closely related to the evolved species of the same region.
It is, therefore, probable that Africa was formerly inhabited by extinct apes closely allied to the gorilla and chimpanzee: and as these two species are now man's nearest allies, it is somewhat more probable that our early progenitors lived on the African continent than elsewhere. " On the contrary, many anthropologists disagreed with Darwin's opinion because the Dark Continent, better known as Africa, was not a fit enough place for the origin of a so noble of a creature as the Homo sapiens. Another conclusion made by Darwin was this: " If it be an advantage to man to have his hands and arms free and to stand firmly on his feet, ... then I can see no reason why it should not have been more advantageous tot he progenitors of man to have become more and more erect or bipedal. The hands and arms could hardly have become perfect enough to have manufactured weapons, or to have hurled stones and spears with true aim, as long as they were habitually used for supporting the whole weight of the body... or so long as they were especially fitted for climbing trees. " This was written by Darwin in his book called The Descent of Man. The Descent of Man was written to distinguish the evolvement of humans, bipedalism, technology, and an enlarged brain.
In this quote, Darwin is stating that the evolution of the Homo sapiens unusual form of locomotion was directly linked to the production of stone weapons. Furthermore, Darwin linked these evolutionary changes to the origin of the canine teeth in humans. In addition, the canine teeth of a human are unusually small compared to the canines of apes. As bipedal creatures, Homo sapiens developed a more intense and interactive social mind-frame.
With the development of a more intense and interactive social mind-frame, Homo sapiens required more intellect or mentality. As the intelligence of our ancestors, Homo sapiens, increased, the greater was their sophistication and technology. In 1961, Ellen Simons, at Yale University, published a monumental document, which stated that a small apelike creature named Ramapithecus, which was the first known hominid species. Hominid is also known as a primate. Parts of an upper jaw were the only remains of Ramapithecus. He discovered that the cheek teeth, which consist of the premolars and molars, are similar to the human cheek teeth.
The cheek teeth of Ramapithecus were flat and not pointed as ape teeth are. In addition, Simons discovered that the canines were shorter and blunter than the canines of apes. Yet another discovery Simons came to was that the reconstruction of the incomplete upper jaw of Ramapithecus showed a human like shape. The upper jaw of Ramapithecus, is an arch at the roof of the mouth.
Similar to humans, Ramapithecus walked upright on two feet, hunted, and lived in a complex social environment. With the aid of Darwin's theory of evolution, Ramapithecus, the very first hominid species, became viewed by many anthropologists has a cultural animal, which states that Ramapithecus is a primitive version of modern humans. The first human species is believed to have evolved only about 7 illusion years ago. Data indicated that the blood proteins of humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas are equally different from each other.
In other words, a type of evolutionary event 7 million years ago caused a common ancestor to split in three directions at once. This type of evolutionary event not only led to the evolution of modern humans but also of modern chimpanzees and modern gorillas. In the 1980 s, discoveries of much more complete specimens of Ramapithecus fossils, settled the dispute of the evolutionary event. The original Ramapithecus fossils are undisputed human like in various ways, but the species of Ramapithecus was not human like. The jaw of Ramapithecus was a V-shape, not a U-shape. In addition, Ramapithecus had lived a lifestyle in trees, similar to its ancestors, the orangutans.
Also Ramapithecus was not a bipedal ape, which proved that it was less of a primitive hunter-gatherer. The beginning of the apes and forward onto the human proceeds through fourteen different types of primitive Homo sapiens. The first primitive ape, Phiolethecus is similar to a modern-day spider monkey except for its skull, face and teeth. Its skull, face and teeth are similar to the skull, face, and teeth of a gibbon. A gibbon is described as an animal with a slender body with long dangling arms. Scientists believe that Phiolethecus probably have used its arms in order to swing from tree to tree throughout the jungle.
The Proconsul is an early ape, which was once considered to be a distinct genus. A genus is defined as a class or group of species. The Proconsul is defined as a subgenus of Dryopithecus. Dryopithecus is an ape that evolved in Africa in various forms.
It is believed that they are distant ancestors of the chimpanzee. In addition, it is a larger form and predecessor of the gorilla. First of the fossil great apes to be discovered, Dryopithecus was spread out and distributed throughout Europe, India, China and Africa. On the contrary, the skeleton of Dryopithecus is still frustratingly incomplete. The skeleton has been reconstructed by used the jaw and tooth bone fragments. Standing at bout four feet tall and weighing about eighty pounds, Oreopitecus is a possible branch of the human's family tree.
With the evidence of its teeth and pelvis, Oreopithecus is regarded as an ancestor to the ape or an ancestor to monkeys. As I have described earlier, Ramapithecus is the earliest primate to be considered a direct ancestor of modern day human beings. The creature, which is three to four feet tall, is the Ramapithecus species. They were hominid in shape because it only consists of few teeth, and the fragments of the upper and lower jaws are similar to a hominid.
Australopithecus Africanus is the first definite human ancestor, which is four million years younger than Ramapithecus. During the time of Ramapithecus and Australopithecus Africanus, these pre-humans made great technological advances. Such advances of becoming bipedal. With the aid of bipedalism, this species lived on the ground for the majority of its life. In addition, the advances of the use of stone, bone and wood were used as tools and weapons. Similarly to Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Robustus lived in South Africa.
The Australopithecus Robustus is a definite descendant of Australopithecus Africanus. Australopithecus Boisei is the greatest in size of all the australopithecines, which lived in East Africa. It is the largest of the australopithecines because it has developed more massive teeth and jawbones. Unfortunately, Australopithecus Boisei became extinct. The Advanced Australopithecus is signified from the other australopithecines because of advanced features such as greater intelligence. Many scientists feel that this australopithecine should be regarded as a true man.
They also call Advanced Australopithecus "Homo habits. " On the contrary, Homo Erectus, in 1950, was classified as the first true man. Homo Erectus contained more primitive of a brain, which had a cranial capacity to half of the Homo sapiens. In addition, Homo Erectus led a social life and came under the use of fire and could believably talk. The Neanderthal Man was a survivor. It had a cranial capacity, which was similar in size to modern humans.
The Neanderthal Man had basic advances in life style. The Neanderthal Man made basic clothes and constructed tools of advanced design. The Cro-Magnon Man is regarded has the first fine artist on earth. Proof of this fine artistry is that of rich records of accomplishments in cave paintings, which Cro-Magnon made. He made these records From stone engravings and carved figures. Cro-Magnon amazingly spread to all habitable parts of the world.
Modern Man, us, has learned from the teaching and evolvement of the Cro-Magnon. We have learned to grow our own food and domesticate our animals. In addition we possessed the control over the environment and created cites and established civilizations. We act like animals, we eat like animals, and we are animals. The many theories of evolution such as Darwin's theory of evolution prove to us that we choose to believe that we are not animals when we really are. With the amazing changes and evolvement our species has undergone and as the twenty first century approaches us, who knows what forms of evolutionary change will come of us.
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Research essay sample on Darwin Theory Of Evolution Animals And Plants
