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Question 34 — The Human Story (25 marks) Answer parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question on pages 2–4 of the Section II Writing Booklet - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 34 - 2013 - Paper 1
Question 34
Question 34 — The Human Story (25 marks) Answer parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question on pages 2–4 of the Section II Writing Booklet. Start each part of the questi... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Question 34 — The Human Story (25 marks) Answer parts (a), (b) and (c) of the question on pages 2–4 of the Section II Writing Booklet - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 34 - 2013 - Paper 1
Step 1
Outline the features used to identify humans as the species Homo sapiens.
Answer
Humans, identified as Homo sapiens, possess several key features:
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Cranial Capacity: Humans have a significantly larger cranial capacity, averaging about 1,300 to 1,400 cubic centimeters, which is correlated with advanced cognitive abilities.
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Upright Posture: The ability to walk upright on two legs (bipedalism) is a major distinguishing characteristic. This adaptation has allowed for greater mobility and the use of hands for tool manipulation.
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Flat Facial Features: Homo sapiens exhibit a more flattened face compared to other hominids, with reduced brow ridges and a prominent chin.
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Complex Social Structures: The development of intricate social groups and communication methods, such as language, also differentiates humans from other species.
Step 2
Compare this method for dating with another dating technique.
Answer
The Carbon-14 () dating method is particularly effective for dating organic materials up to about 50,000 years old due to its relatively short half-life of approximately 5,750 years. In comparison, another popular dating technique is potassium-argon (K-Ar) dating, which is used to date volcanic rocks and is effective for even older specimens, reaching over a million years.
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Carbon-14 Dating: This technique relies on measuring the remaining radioactive in organic remains to establish age. It's particularly useful for recent fossils and archaeological artifacts.
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Potassium-Argon Dating: This method measures the ratio of radioactive potassium-40 to argon-40 in volcanic materials. It is beneficial for dating geological events and is crucial in paleoanthropology to date early hominid fossils found in ancient volcanic layers.
Both methods complement each other by providing a broader temporal framework for understanding human evolution.