Complete the sentence by putting a cross (☒) in the box next to your answer - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2014 - Paper 1
Question 4
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (☒) in the box next to your answer.
The species which is thought to have inhabited the Earth for the longest period of time... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Complete the sentence by putting a cross (☒) in the box next to your answer - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 4 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (☒) in the box next to your answer.
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Answer
The species thought to have inhabited the Earth for the longest period is A. Australopithecus afarensis. This species existed on Earth for approximately 4 million years, as inferred by fossil records.
Step 2
Estimate the number of years that Homo habilis inhabited the Earth.
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Answer
Homo habilis is estimated to have inhabited the Earth for about 1 million years, existing approximately from 2.4 million to 1.4 million years ago.
Step 3
Describe the methods scientists may have used to identify the skull as belonging to the species Homo erectus.
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Scientists may use several methods to identify the skull as belonging to Homo erectus:
Morphological Analysis: Examining the skull's physical features such as size, shape, and specific characteristics like brow ridges and dental patterns that are distinctive to Homo erectus.
Radiometric Dating: Utilizing dating techniques to determine the age of the fossilized skull and verifying if it falls within the known time frame of Homo erectus existence.
Comparative Studies: Comparing the skull with existing fossil records of Homo erectus and other hominin species to identify unique traits.
Genetic Analysis: If possible, extracting DNA from the skull to compare it genetically with known Homo erectus samples.