Human: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 19:42, 27 December 2001 view sourceDmerrill (talk \| contribs)0 edits tried to incorporate RS's criticism of homo-centrism. :-)← Previous edit		Revision as of 19:52, 27 December 2001 view source Slrubenstein (talk \| contribs)30,655 edits included a paranthetical definition of "generalized"Next edit →
Line 3:		Line 3:


	''Homo sapiens'' is among the most generalized species on ] and inhabit nearly all landmasses. In terms of population size or diversity of species, smaller and simpler animals such as ] and ] dominate the Earth's species, however. By some measures it is the "dominant" species, in that it is generally considered the most advanced in intelligence and ability to manage its environment.		''Homo sapiens'' is among the most generalized species on ] and inhabit nearly all landmasses (a "generalized" trait is one that is suited to many different functions; an organism that is highly generalized can survive in a greater variety of environments). In terms of population size or diversity of species, smaller and simpler animals such as ] and ] dominate the Earth's species, however. By some measures it is the "dominant" species, in that it is generally considered the most advanced in intelligence and ability to manage its environment.

Revision as of 19:52, 27 December 2001

Homo sapiens (Latin: wise human) is a biological species, a mammal and the only surviving species of the genus Homo. The species is commonly referred to as "humankind", "humanity", "humans", "people". (Also sometimes called "man" or "mankind", but that usage is discouraged these days on the grounds of gender neutrality.) Misplaced Pages is contributed to by members of this species.

Homo sapiens is among the most generalized species on Earth and inhabit nearly all landmasses (a "generalized" trait is one that is suited to many different functions; an organism that is highly generalized can survive in a greater variety of environments). In terms of population size or diversity of species, smaller and simpler animals such as bacteria and insects dominate the Earth's species, however. By some measures it is the "dominant" species, in that it is generally considered the most advanced in intelligence and ability to manage its environment.

Some of the closest living evolutionary relatives to humans are the hominids chimpanzees, orangutans and gorillas.

Most surviving evidence suggests that H. sapiens differentiated from H. erectus between 300,000 and 400,000 years ago. Fossil records indicate that early H. sapiens shared many facial features with H. erectus, yet used tools and hunted game. Few such intermediate forms have been found, though scientists doubt that concomitant evolution would have occurred over a large area.

Important fossils:

Petralona, Greece, about 300k years old. Contained many features of H. erectus.

Arago, France, about 300k years old. Oldest skull clearly of H. sapiens origin.

The direct evidence suggests that there was a migration out of Africa of H. erectus, then a further speciation of H. sapiens from H. erectus in Africa and a subsequent migration out of Africa which replaced dispersed H. erectus. There is little evidence that this speciation occurred elsewhere, even though some fossil evidence for H. erectus has been found in China. However, the current evidence doesn't preclude multiregional speciation, either. This is a hotly debated area in paleoanthropology.

The origins of humanity is a subject of great political and religious controversy in the United States and certain other countries. See: creationism.