NSC Life Sciences Human Evolution: Scientists use fossils as eviden

Question

Scientists use fossils as evidence for human evolution. The brain volume of some extinct primates has been estimated from their fossils and have been compared to the brain volumes of living primates.

The results are shown in the table below.

PRIMATE                          PERIOD OF EXISTENCE (million years ago)     AVERAGE BRAIN VOLUME (cm³)

Ardipithecus ramidus             5.8 to 4.4                                             400
Australopithecus afarensis        4 to 2.7                                               450
Australopithecus africanus        3 to 2                                                 450
Homo habilis                             2.2 to 1.6                                               750
Homo erectus                          2 to 0.4                                               1000
Homo neanderthalensis          0.2 to 0.23                                             1300
Homo sapiens                       0.2 to present                                        1400
Modern apes

1. Apart from fossil evidence, give TWO other types of evidence for human evolution.

2.1.1 Which primate became extinct first?

3.1.3 The brain of an organism is not preserved as a fossil.

3.1.4 Calculate the difference in brain volume (in cm³) between the two living primates. Show ALL calculations.

3.1.5 Give evidence in the table that suggests that:
   (a) Homo habilis and Homo erectus may have existed at the same time
   (b) Ardipithecus was the most primitive of all the primate genera

3.1.6 Draw a bar graph to show the average brain volume of EACH of the species of the genus Homo.

Scientists use fossils as evidence for human evolution - NSC Life Sciences - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 2

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Scientists use fossils as evidence for human evolution - NSC Life Sciences - Question 3 - 2017 - Paper 2

Apart from fossil evidence, give TWO other types of evidence for human evolution.

Which primate became extinct first?

The brain of an organism is not preserved as a fossil.

Calculate the difference in brain volume (in cm³) between the two living primates. Show ALL calculations.

Give evidence in the table that suggests that: (a) Homo habilis and Homo erectus may have existed at the same time

Give evidence in the table that suggests that: (b) Ardipithecus was the most primitive of all the primate genera.

Draw a bar graph to show the average brain volume of EACH of the species of the genus Homo.

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