Module 6 Human Origins

In this module, we will critically examine the evidence regarding human origins. In particular,
we will highlight the significant anatomical and molecular differences between humans and
chimpanzees. We will look at alleged human ancestors from the fossil record and whether they
are human descendants of Adam and Eve or just extinct apes.

There are 3 units in this module.

Objectives:

• Students should be able to describe differences between humans and chimpanzees in

regard to walking upright.
• Students should know the important fossils related to human origins and be able to
interpret their importance within the evolution and creation models.
• Students should know the supposed sequence of human evolution and some of the
contradictory evidence obtained from hominid fossils.

Lesson 17 Human Origins 1: focuses on the differences between humans and chimpanzees. In
particular, anatomical requirements for upright locomotion will be examined.

A. Background
A. Evolution model predicts a common ancestor of man and apes contrast is the
Creation Orchard
B. Samantic Tricks, goes aginst scripture the dust man
C.
B. Race issues
A. Only one race in scripture
A. Talks about different nations or people groups

- Tower of Babel- Founder effect

Different people taking genetic characteristics to a different place

-Genetic Studies
- Bases on Y chromosome analysis or mitochaondrial DNA
All males desended from a common Adam about 100000 years ago
- Everyone descends from a common mitochondrial Eve about 200000 years
- Parsons study closery to 6k
- According to elolution model all humans have a single common ancestor. This is because
of the genetic similarity which exists
UV vs skin reflectance
- parts of the world with the most UV exposure are areas where indigenous people have the
darkest skin
- parts with less have lighter skin
 - UV is required for the production of vitamin D but destroys folic acid and important B
vitamin
-
Genetics 1
- Do human and chimps have 98% DNA similarity?
o Recent studies have lowered this number , depends on what you count
o Humans have 23 chromosomes, chimps 24
o Human telomeres are half as long
o Many other differences not quantifiable as percentage
o Conclusion Humans and chimps do not share a common ancestor
-
Genetics 2
progression from ape to human because of dates and transition from ape like to human like
transition to upright posture increasing brain size
changes intendition
Alleged progression of human evolution

Skeletal differences between apes and humans

- human spine is long and curves S shaped
 o chips have c
o Pelvis broader
o Thighbone is angeled inward
o Knee joint
o Foot is arches and no opposable big toe
- some differences between skulls
o Chimps have sloped face
o Smaller brain case
o Large long jaw
o No nasal bones
o Large canine teeth
o Large zygomoatic arch
o Brow ridge bone
Jaw different
Ape jaws are very robust long and narrow in front
Quadruped Vs Biped Skull
Location of foramen magnum is toward the rear in qudrapedal apes

Toumai
- our oldest ancestor?
- July 2002
- Dated to 6-7 million years
- 4 days later they said human like were really those of female gorillas

C. Upgrading apes/downgrading huans

D. – What does it mean to be human?
A. Man is created in the image of God
A. Has intresic value

Lesson 18 Human Origins 2: looks at the various hominid fossils and puts them in a creationist
perspective. We will especially focus on Neanderthals and Lucy, the australopithecine.

A. Background
A. Problem: specimens either come out with age date or have intermintiate feature,
but not both

- View of Old Earth /Progressive creationist

- consider Neanderthals, homo erectus and others a separate creation
- called them bipedal primates to distinguish them from human
- incorrectly claim n odirect link between humans and Neanderthals
Typically accept evolutionist dating
Paleoanthropology
The study of human fossils
How are they studies?
- often pieced together
not studied directly, use of casts fragile and irreplaceable
 Donald Johanson
- only those in the intercyrcle gain acces to them
Most investigators use casts
- may not be accurate
o pilydown man filed teeth
o an australopithecine cast:
Piltdown man hoax
Orangutan jaw, human skull cap
Ales Hidlicka- jaw is nearer to humans than apes
Elliot smith- skull is primitive and had an ape like brain

Neanderthal
- Common portrayal of the Neanderthals
- Usually viewed as
o Less intelligent
o Bruitish
o Typical of cave man
o Very different from modern humans
This is probably not Ture

Neanderthal Characteristics
- brow ridge
- long skull
- occoutial bun
- low forhead

What did they do?

- made fire
- used jewekry
- interbreed
- carded for eachother
buried their dead

How do evolutionist attempt to solve the problem?

- fossils and archeological discoveries have failed to solve the relationshio of Neanderthals
- therefore some scientist appeal to DNA evidence

Implications
- divergence time between Neanderthals and moder humans is misplaced
- Neanderthals cannot be exluded from human history

Homo Erectus – up right man

- .3 -1.8 MYA
- Found by Dubois
- Found skull cap femure teeth
- 1920s admitted to finding wajak 1 nad 2
 o Similar to modern man, same strata
o Java man could not be ancestral to modern humans
- homo erectus
o 1.6- 400000 recent dating in Java indicates only 50k years
o 222 homo erectus fossils
o 24 date 1.5-2
o 106 < 300000
o 62 date 12k
Homo ergaster
Homo erectus specimens found in Africa are assigned to this group
- modern humans share features with ergaster which are different from homo erectus
- assigned to 1.9 – 1.5
- assumed to be ancestral to homo populations but likely just regional differences

Homo Habilus
Some KNM-ER 1470 not similar to homo sapiens (really like more ape like up closers
inspection
- other small and ape like
- overlaps homo erectus therefore is not a good ancestor
- no longer considered to be an ancestral to any members of Homo

SNM ER 1470 and others formerly classified as Homo habilis placed into a new category
because of clear differences with other habilis
Still debated

B. Australopithecus
A. Creationist and some evolutionist condifer it an extinct apge
B. Donald johanson found it
C. 40% of bones were found

- humans are most closely related to

Lesson 19 Lucy, She’s no Lady: is an online video produced by Answers in Genesis

featuring Dr. David Menton. Dr. Menton received several teaching awards while teaching
anatomy at Washington University. He is extremely knowledgeable about the australopithecines
like Lucy. He shows a very intriguing NOVA clip at the end of the video.