The origin of modern human and their settlements caused controversy with two different hypothesis. One is ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis, confirm that all modern humans stem from a single group of Homo sapiens who emigrated from Africa 2,000 generations ago and spread throughout Eurasia over thousands of years. These settlers replaced other early humans (such as Neanderthals), rather than interbreeding with them. The second hypothesis is Multiregional that Homo sapiens is the evolution from Homo erectus, and that evolution took place in many parts of globe independently. Genetic studies and fossil evidence show that archaic Homo sapiens evolved to anatomically modern humans solely in Africa between 200,000 and 60,000 years ago. Hence the ‘Out of Africa’ hypothesis, that modern human stem from Africa is recognized. The human family was born in Africa, and many millions of years passed before we have any evidence that hominids had managed to escape the continent’s confines and went to conquer Asia and Europe.
In “The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey,” American geneticist and anthropologist Spencer Wells uses techniques of genetics to prove the theory of humankind’s spread from Africa into the far corners of the world. By using DNA analysis, he analyses the Y chromosome, which differentiates populations of human beings, and had the result that they all originate from genetic Y chromosome known as M168, as humans migrated out of Africa. The study of genetics of Russian Academy of
Humans developed in Africa. “…, indicates that the earliest stages of human evolution were also played out in Africa.” (Page 36)
In the documentary “The Journey of Man”, Spencer Wells goes on an expedition to map out the begging of human migration out of Africa. He plans on doing this by finding and obtaining blood samples from the various tribes around the world. It is believed that the first living being was from Africa. “According to the recent single origin hypothesis, human ancestors originated in Africa, and eventually made their way out to the rest of the world. Analysis of the Y chromosome is one of the methods used in tracing the history of early humans. Thirteen genetic markers on the Y-chromosome differentiate populations of human beings” (Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey). In additions it is also believed,” on the basis
Science researcher Christopher Stringer and science writer Robin McKie state that modern humans first developed in Africa and then spread to other parts of the world.
The Journey of Man was an interesting non-fictional anthropological literary piece where the author sought to explain how modern humans came to inhabit the world we know today. He began by talking about the mitochondrial DNA passed from mother to daughter, or the maternal line. Using this it was discovered that all people had a common female ancestor who lived in Africa about 200,000 years ago. This was one of the first steps in supporting the out of Africa hypothesis. However, mtDNA could not give all the answers to how humans moved throughout the world, and for that he turned to the male Y chromosome. By examining this, he and many other geneticists discovered the different changes throughout populations, and could estimate how long ago they occurred. According to Wells, modern humans were in Africa 60,000 years ago, and from that point began to migrate outward. For each new area, such as Asia, the Middle East, Australia, and others, there were specific polymorphisms on the Y chromosome that defined each population. By using this technique, he was able to map out when modern
Chris stringer is the author of Lone Survivor How We Came to Be the Only Humans on Earth. Stringer covers a wide variety of topics in his book. He talks about the modern technology we have now that makes it easier to identify fossils, bones, dates, etc. He also mentions how the human gene became what it is today, the Homo sapien. Stringer argues that Homo sapiens did not originate in a single region of Africa. Instead, different populations coexisted across the continent with other species like Homo erectus, and they exchanged genes, tools and behavioral and survival traits before they migrated to Europe.
“Despite intense research efforts, no consensus has been reached about the genetic relationship between early modern humans and archaic human forms such as the Neanderthals” (Serre, 16 March 2004). It is a
One of the most fiercely debated issues in paleoanthropology points at the origins the primate species. The top two continents that have been very evident in our origins that can be traced to Africa and (Eur)Asia. African origin stresses the multiregional continuity theory it suggests a single origin for modern humans and gives an explanation to the Out-of-Africa model for the patter of our human evolution.
The theory was broken down into two parts of the world, Southern and Northern Cradle. The southern cradle is located in Africa and Northern in Europe. This theory was explained how the human species originated in Africa in the area of Kenya and Ethiopia and over time, man left Africa over 40 thousand years ago and ended up in Europe. With evolution over 20 thousands years, man makeup changed to accommodate the harsh living environment during that time of glaciation. The climate was very cold and man
There was a question leaved me confused at times. Where did I come from? Where did human come from? I heard many religious stories about the origin of human. However, those legends cannot solve my doubts. After I took this anthropology class, I got my answer. Modern humans evolved in Africa. Moreover, I learned that our bodies also contain small percent Neandertal DNA. What was the Neandertal? Neandertal, the scientific name of which is Homo Neandertalensis, existed roughly between 200,000 and 30,000 years ago. They lived in Europe eastward to Central Asia. In fact, in the past, scientists always thought that Neandertals were more likely brutal and stupid apes. However, Neandertals were smart like modern humans and owned their special
For many years, scientists have studied Neanderthals. Some scientists have led to believe that Neanderthals play a special role in the genetic makeup of modern day humans. In the article, Ancient gene flow from early modern humans into Eastern Neanderthals, it says that recently it has been shown that Neanderthals contributed genetically to modern humans outside Africa 47,0000-65,000 years ago. In this article Neanderthals and Denisovan, (an extinct species of human in the genus homo Alta) are analyzed from the Altai Mountains in Siberia together with the sequence of chromosome 21 of two Neanderthals from Spain and Croatia. In their research they discovered that a population that diverged early from other modern humans in Africa have contributed
The Out of Africa Theory is a widely renown theory describing the origin of the human race and their early dispersal throughout the world. According to this theory, humans have a monogensis, or a single and common origin; Africa. The concept was first introduced in 1871 by Charles Darwin but was deliberated for years until further studies of mitochondrial DNA and evidence ”based on physical anthropology of archaic specimens” was added.
Human origins, evolution, and diffusion are important for understanding the history of Africa. African historians take pride in the fact that Africa is most certainly the birthplace of humanity. There is evidence showing that humanity began in Africa by remains left behind by human groups and societies. They have retrieved fossils of living organisms, and even written records, like cave drawings. Dating back millions of years ago Africa provides the best time line of human development because other parts of the world do not have evidence dating back as far as in Africa. Where did humanity and human history begin? There are theories supporting both that, humans evolved from various parts of the world, and that humans rose in Africa then migrated to other parts of the world and continued to develop. The theory that has the most support is that humanity rose in Africa then moved to other regions of the world. Africa is indeed the home of humanity but because Africa is where humanity began they were not able to be at the top of the evolutionary ladder because their global location did not allow them to develop faster. Human history in general is difficult to understand but we can look at the past to learn more about where we came from and how our societies have developed.
Human evolution is the gradual process in which people, or Homo sapiens, originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence, particularly in the form of fossils and secondary remains, show that the physical and behavioral traits shared by all people evolved over a period of approximately six million years. Humans are primates. Both genetic and physical similarities show that humans and the great apes (large apes) of Africa, chimpanzees (including bonobos, or so-called “pygmy chimpanzees”) and gorillas share a common ancestor that lived between 8 and 6 million years ago. The volume of fossils found in Africa suggests that most evolution occurred there and is likely the place of origin for early humans. This brings to fruition the “out of Africa” theory, also called the “single-origin hypothesis.”
The scientists involved in the project took the sample of 12,127 men from 163 different Asian populations including Iran, China and Siberia. This experiment looked at the modern human DNA patterns that define the Y chromosome. According to past studies, the Y chromosome remains constant through time and can be utilized to help trace a male’s ancestors. The results from this experiment are overwhelming and very exciting to those in the scientific community who support the Out-of-Africa theory. These results show that every man who participated in the study had one of three Y chromosome biallelic markers or mutations labeled YAP+, M89T, and M130T. These three mutations all connect back to one mutation called M168T which originate in Africa around 35,000 to 89,000 years ago. For the regional continuity theory to be proven valid, one of these 12,127 men would have not had one of these mutations but a completely new and different mutation. This could have suggested a possible lineage to another type of Homo erectus living in Asia or interbreeding between different human-like species. This may become possible in the future and prove this current study false. However, at the present time, this indisputable information resolves that there is not as much evidence to support the theory of regional continuity or else there
Human evolution according to research started over 6 million years ago. The outcome of the evolution process is the current human beings. Scientific studies have revealed over the years a remarkable affinity between the chimpanzees/Apes and human beings. Even though this reality is not a definitive prove that human beings evolved from apes, it does show that the human beings are in one way or another related to other primates. Scientists suppose that the humans and the primates shared a common ancestor. The subject of what makes humans what they are and their origin has been the exclusive purpose leading to many scientific studies globally (Coolidge & Wynn, 2011). Studies believe that Africa was the origin of evolution millions of years ago. Fossil remains have been discovered in different parts of Africa as well as other regions of the world. Different hominins have been discovered around the world in the last 1 million years. Thus, the different discoveries have led to comparisons between the various species of hominins to clarify on their similarities as well as differences. This essay seeks to explain whether they were distinctively different species or regional versions of the same species.