BIOLOGICAL AND

CULTURAL
EVOLUTION: FROM
AUSTRALOPITHECUS
TO HOMO SAPIENS
WHAT IS BIOLOGICAL AND
CULTURAL EVOLUTION?
BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
• It refers to the changes, modifications,
and variations in the genetics and
inherited traits of biological populations
from one generation to another.
• according to the scientist the changes in
physical body of humans, the changes in
the shape and size of their bones, brain,
dentition, and fingers for instance.
• the changes in posture, movement,
and the development of bipedalism or
walking on two feet in an upright
position.
• it is the process of cumulative change
over successive generations through
which organisms acquire their
distinguishing morphological and
physiological characteristics.
 CULTURAL EVOLUTION
• It is also called as socio cultural evolution.
• It refers to the changes or development in
cultures from a simple form to a more complex
form of human culture.
• It happens as a result of human adaptation to
different factors like climatic changes and
population increase.
• Analyzing the changes in the latters way of
life reflected in the different tools and other
human-made objects that they have used.
WHAT IS CHARLES DARWIN’S
VIEW ON EVOLUTION?
 CHARLES DARWIN

• naturalist and
biologist known for his
theory of evolution
and the process of
natural selection.
• he published On the
Origin of Species.
 NATURAL SELECTION
Natural selection is one of the basic mechanisms of
evolution, along with mutation, migration, and genetic
drift. Darwin's grand idea of evolution by natural selection
is relatively simple but often misunderstood. To find out
how it works, imagine a population of beetles:
• There is variation in traits. For example, some
beetles are green and some are brown.
• There is differential reproduction. Since the
environment can't support unlimited population growth,
not all individuals get to reproduce to their full potential.
In this example, green beetles tend to get eaten by
birds and survive to reproduce less often than brown
beetles do.
 NATURAL SELECTION

• There is heredity. The surviving brown beetles

have brown baby beetles because this trait has a
genetic basis.
• End result: The more advantageous trait, brown
coloration, which allows the beetle to have more
offspring, becomes more common in the
population. If this process continues, eventually,
all individuals in the population will be brown.
• If you have variation, differential reproduction,
and heredity, you will have evolution by natural
selection as an outcome. It is as simple as that.
THREE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES
OF NATURAL SELECTION
• Variation- Every species is made up of a variety
of individuals wherein some are better adapted to
their environments compared to others.
• Heritability-Organisms produce progeny with
different sets of traits that can be inherited.
• Differential reproductive success-Organisms that
have traits most suitable to their environment will
survive and transfer these variations to their
offspring in subsequent generations.
HOW DO ARTIFACTS AND FOSSILS
HELP US UNDERSTAND THE
CULTURAL,SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENTS OF MODERN
HUMANS?
 ARCHAEOLOGIST OR SOCIAL
SCIENTIST

• study the ancient and recent past of

human conduct excavations to search
for fossils and artifacts that can provide
information about the origins of humans.
 FOSSILS
• It refers to the human, plant, and animal
remains that have been preserved through
time like human or animal teeth, skull, and
used by humans.
 ARTIFACTS
• It refers to object that were made and used by
humans.
Examples:
Stone tools, metal tools, ceramics, earthware,
burial jars and ornaments.
 How do museums serve as venues
where we can appreciate and
understand our biological, social and
cultural evolution?
HOW DID HOMINIDS EVOLVE
INTO MODERN HUMANS?
 HOMINID
• Is the general term used by scientist
categorize the group of early humans
and other human like creatures that can
walk erect during the prehistoric times.
 FOUR CATEGORIES OF
HOMINIDS

• Sahelanthropus
• Ardipithecus
• Australopithecus
• Homo
 SAHELANTHROPUS
• It is one of the oldest known species on
the human family tree.
• This species lived sometime between 7
and 6 million years ago in West-Central
Africa (Chad).
• indicates this early human had a
combination of apelike and humanlike
features.
• Their apelike features included a small
brain (even slightly smaller than a
chimpanzee’s!) sloping face, very
prominent brow ridges, and elongated
skull.
• Their humanlike features included small
canine teeth, a short middle part of the
face, and a spinal cord opening beneath
the skull instead of towards the back, like
in nonbipedal primates (or apes).
 ARDIPITHECUS
• Ardipithecus means “ape on the ground” while
ramidus means “root”.
• Height of about 4 feet
• Weight of about 120 pounds
• Skull size similar to an ape
• Small brain
• Biped (walked on two legs)
• lived in jungles and forests like the champanzees
 AUSTRALOPITHECUS
• southern ape
• they lived in the African jungle from 5 million to
1 million years ago.
• Brain size of 500 cubic centimeters or almost
1/3 of the size of modern human brain
• Upright
• Biped
• Tool users only and not tool makers
• Used sticks and stones for digging
• Lived in small social groups
• Distance of movement was estimated to
be 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) or more to
search for stones to be used as tools
• Food scavengers
• Ate insects, eggs, plants, fruits, and
sometimes meat
 SIX SPECIES OF
AUSTRALOPITHECUS

Gracile Australopithecine- had small teeth

and jaw.
 Australopithecus anamenisis
 Australopithecus afarensis (Southern ape
from Afar) one of the longest lived and best
known early human species.
 Australopithecus africanus
Robust
Australopithecus group
• Australopithecus
aethiopicus
• Australopithecus robustus
• Australopithecus boisei
 HOMO HABILIS
• Handy man was the direct ancestor of the
modern human because of its ability to
produce tools.
• height of about 3 to 4 feet
• Brain size half the size of the modern human
• Made tools called Oldowan
• Used tools for hunting and food gathering
 HOMO ERECTUS
• Brain sized of 1,000 cc or about 2/3 of the
modern human brain size
• Height about five feet
• Walks upright
• Skillful hunters
• they are known for making complex tools
used for digging, cutting, and scrapping
• famous for making and using hand axe
tools for slicing, chopping, and digging.
• it was the first homo species to use fire
and to live in caves and small houses made
of tree branches.
• the first homo use spoken language.
 HOMO SAPIENS
• considered as modern humans
• large brain size (1,400 cc) that is almost
similar to the brain of modern humans
• lived in shelters
• food gatherers
• Ate plants and fruits
• Hunted animals
• Learned to gather and cook shellfish
• used fire
• crafted metals
• the first to develop and use oral language
• were able to communicate effectively in
order to work together in groups during
hunting activities and settle conflicts within
the group
THANK YOU AND
GOD BLESS!!!
 PERFORMANCE TASK
(INDIVIDUAL)
• Flambeau is looking for the next year’s set
of student journalist. You were sent by
your English teacher in audition, it is
because he saw your ability in writing. The
arbiter told you to write an editorial essay
that will talk about social, cultural and
political issues. Content, eloquence and
ability to convey the reader will be the
basis of your paper.