Export your learner materials as an interactive game, a webpage, or FAQ style cheatsheet.
Unsaved Work Found!
It looks like you have unsaved work from a previous session. Would you like to restore it?
Total Categories: 5
The 'Out of Africa' theory, in its most stringent interpretation, posits that Homo sapiens originated solely in Africa and subsequently replaced all archaic hominin populations worldwide without any genetic interbreeding.
Answer: False
While the 'Out of Africa' theory emphasizes a primary African origin and subsequent dispersal, modern genetic evidence indicates that interbreeding (admixture) did occur between Homo sapiens and archaic hominin populations like Neanderthals and Denisovans outside of Africa.
Anatomically modern humans, Homo sapiens, are believed to have originated in Africa between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago according to the primary model.
Answer: True
The prevailing 'recent African origin' model posits that Homo sapiens emerged in Africa within this timeframe. Some research also suggests a more complex scenario where diverse modern human features may have arisen locally across Africa and converged through gene flow.
"Out of Africa I" refers to the migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa, while "Out of Africa II" refers to earlier migrations of archaic hominins.
Answer: False
The terminology is reversed: 'Out of Africa I' generally refers to the earlier migrations of archaic hominins (e.g., Homo erectus) out of Africa, beginning over 1.8 million years ago. 'Out of Africa II' specifically denotes the more recent migrations of anatomically modern Homo sapiens out of Africa.
The multiregional origin hypothesis, proposed by Milford Wolpoff, suggested that Homo erectus populations evolved into Homo sapiens concurrently in different regions with minimal gene flow.
Answer: False
The multiregional origin hypothesis, as proposed by Milford Wolpoff, suggested that Homo erectus populations evolved into Homo sapiens concurrently in different regions, but crucially, it emphasized *continuous gene flow* between these populations to maintain species cohesion and regional continuity. Minimal gene flow is contrary to the hypothesis's core tenets.
The presence of Neanderthal DNA in modern Europeans and Asians, and Denisovan DNA in Australasians, confirms the "Out of Africa" model as a complete replacement event.
Answer: False
The discovery of admixture between Homo sapiens and archaic hominins (Neanderthals and Denisovans) demonstrates that the 'Out of Africa' model was not a scenario of complete replacement. Instead, it involved complex interactions, including interbreeding, leading to the incorporation of archaic DNA into modern human genomes outside of Africa.
The original "strong" multiregional hypothesis, proposing continuous evolution from Homo erectus across regions, is now widely accepted with minor modifications.
Answer: False
The original 'strong' multiregional hypothesis, which suggested parallel evolution of Homo sapiens from Homo erectus across different regions with significant gene flow, is largely considered obsolete. While modified versions acknowledging archaic admixture have emerged, they are more aligned with the recent African origin model and do not represent widespread acceptance of the original strong hypothesis.
The multiregional hypothesis has been largely replaced by weaker variants that incorporate archaic admixture, aligning more closely with the recent origin model.
Answer: True
The original 'strong' multiregional hypothesis is largely unsupported. However, modified perspectives that acknowledge gene flow and admixture between Homo sapiens and archaic hominins outside Africa have become more integrated into the broader understanding of human origins, aligning better with genetic evidence and refining the 'recent African origin' model.
Which paleo-anthropological model is most widely accepted for explaining the geographic origin and early migration of anatomically modern humans?
Answer: The Recent African Origin model ("Out of Africa" theory)
The 'recent African origin' model, commonly referred to as the 'Out of Africa' theory, is the most widely accepted framework for understanding the geographic origin and subsequent global dispersal of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens).
According to the "Out of Africa" theory, where and approximately when did anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) originate?
Answer: Africa, between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago
The 'Out of Africa' theory posits that anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) originated in Africa, with current estimates placing this emergence between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago.
The multiregional origin hypothesis proposed that:
Answer: Homo erectus populations in different regions evolved into Homo sapiens concurrently with gene flow.
The multiregional origin hypothesis posited that archaic hominin populations (like Homo erectus) across different geographical regions evolved in parallel into Homo sapiens, with continuous gene flow between these regional populations preventing speciation and maintaining a single human species throughout the Pleistocene.
What is the primary contrast between the original "strong" multiregional hypothesis and the recent African origin theory?
Answer: The role of gene flow between archaic populations.
The fundamental difference lies in the role and extent of gene flow. The multiregional hypothesis emphasizes continuous gene flow among geographically dispersed archaic populations evolving into Homo sapiens, whereas the recent African origin theory posits a single origin in Africa with subsequent dispersal, with admixture being a later, secondary event.
The Omo-Kibish I skeleton, found in Morocco, is the oldest known anatomically modern Homo sapiens skeleton.
Answer: False
The Omo-Kibish I skeleton, dated to approximately 233,000 years ago, was discovered in Ethiopia, not Morocco. While it is a very old specimen, fossils found at Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, dated to around 315,000 years ago, are currently considered older Homo sapiens remains, albeit exhibiting a mix of modern and archaic features.
The discovery of stone tools at Jebel Faya in the UAE, dated to around 127,000 years ago, supports the idea of an eastward dispersal from Northeast Africa via the southern route.
Answer: True
The presence of stone tools at Jebel Faya, dated to approximately 127,000 years ago, provides evidence for early modern human presence in Arabia. This finding supports the hypothesis of an eastward migration route out of Africa, potentially following the southern coast, predating later major dispersals.
The Jebel Irhoud fossils, dated to around 315,000 years ago, exhibit exclusively modern Homo sapiens features, confirming their origin point.
Answer: False
The Jebel Irhoud fossils, dated to approximately 315,000 years ago, exhibit a mosaic of features, including both modern Homo sapiens traits and more archaic characteristics. Their significance lies in pushing back the timeline for Homo sapiens emergence within Africa, suggesting a more widespread and complex origin rather than a single, definitive origin point based solely on exclusively modern features.
The Tianyuan man fossil, dated between 38,000 and 42,000 years ago, shows no genetic relationship to present-day Asian or Native American populations.
Answer: False
Genetic analysis of the Tianyuan man fossil indicates a relationship with many present-day Asian populations and, importantly, with Ancestral Native American populations, suggesting a connection between early East Asian populations and the peopling of the Americas.
The controversy surrounding the Mungo Man 3 mitochondrial DNA was resolved when subsequent analyses confirmed its significant differences from modern human DNA.
Answer: False
The controversy surrounding the Mungo Man 3 mitochondrial DNA was largely resolved when subsequent analyses indicated that its sequences were consistent with modern Aboriginal Australian DNA, rather than confirming significant differences that would challenge its relationship to contemporary populations.
The gap in Homo sapiens fossils in the Levant between ~80,000 and 55,000 years ago suggests Neanderthals may have limited modern human dispersal through that region.
Answer: True
The scarcity of Homo sapiens fossils in the Levant during the period between approximately 80,000 and 55,000 years ago, contrasted with evidence of Neanderthal presence, supports the hypothesis that Neanderthals may have competed with or limited the expansion of modern humans through this crucial migratory corridor.
Which fossil is considered the oldest known anatomically modern Homo sapiens skeleton, dated to approximately 233,000 years ago?
Answer: Omo-Kibish I skeleton
The Omo-Kibish I skeleton, discovered in Ethiopia and dated to approximately 233,000 years ago, is widely regarded as the oldest known anatomically modern Homo sapiens specimen.
Older Homo sapiens fossils, dated to around 315,000 years ago and exhibiting a mix of modern and archaic features, were discovered at which site?
Answer: Jebel Irhoud, Morocco
Fossils discovered at Jebel Irhoud in Morocco, dated to approximately 315,000 years ago, represent some of the earliest known Homo sapiens remains, characterized by a combination of modern and archaic morphological traits.
What is the significance of the Jebel Faya site in the UAE regarding early human migration?
Answer: It shows stone tools dated to ~127,000 years ago, supporting an eastward dispersal via the southern route.
The Jebel Faya site in the UAE yielded stone tools dated to approximately 127,000 years ago, providing crucial evidence for an early eastward migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa, likely following the southern coastal route, significantly earlier than previously thought for this region.
The Tianyuan man fossil, found in China, provides genetic insights suggesting a link between early East Asian populations and which later group?
Answer: Ancestral Native Americans
Genetic studies of the Tianyuan man fossil indicate a connection to Ancestral Native American populations, suggesting that the ancestral groups who eventually populated the Americas may have originated from East Asian populations.
Genetic diversity is significantly higher in non-African populations compared to African populations, challenging the recent African origin model.
Answer: False
Genetic studies consistently show that genetic diversity is significantly higher within African populations compared to non-African populations. This pattern strongly supports the recent African origin model, as it suggests that non-African populations represent a subset of the genetic diversity that evolved over a longer period within Africa.
Haplogroup L3 is significant because its descendants are found globally outside Africa, suggesting they were part of the primary migration event.
Answer: True
Haplogroup L3 is a crucial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineage because its descendants are found almost exclusively outside of Africa, and it is the direct ancestor of haplogroups M and N, which are the primary lineages found globally. This strongly indicates that individuals carrying L3 were central to the major migration event(s) out of Africa.
The JC virus (JCV) analysis supports the recent African origin theory because its most basal strains are found exclusively within Africa.
Answer: False
Analysis of the JC virus (JCV) strains does not exclusively support the recent African origin theory in this manner. Studies indicate that the most basal JCV strains are not found exclusively within Africa, leading researchers to infer that either a basal African strain became extinct or infection occurred after the migration out of Africa.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis in the 1980s showed that human mtDNA was more diverse than that of chimpanzees, supporting a multiregional origin.
Answer: False
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis conducted in the 1980s revealed that human mtDNA exhibited *less* diversity than that of chimpanzees. This finding was interpreted as evidence for a relatively recent common ancestor for all modern humans, supporting the recent African origin model, not a multiregional origin.
The San people of Southern Africa carry haplogroup L0, the earliest lineage branching from Mitochondrial Eve, indicating they represent a population that diverged very early in human history.
Answer: True
The San people, along with the Sandawe of East Africa, carry haplogroup L0, which represents the earliest diverging lineage from Mitochondrial Eve. This genetic marker strongly suggests that these populations diverged very early in human history and have maintained a long evolutionary history within Africa.
Autosomal DNA studies have provided evidence of natural selection acting on genes outside of Africa related to adaptations like skin color.
Answer: True
Autosomal DNA analyses have identified specific genes (e.g., related to skin pigmentation like KITLG and SLC24A5) that show signatures of natural selection acting on populations outside of Africa. This indicates adaptive evolution in response to different environmental conditions encountered during migrations.
The discovery of haplogroup A00 among the Mbo people of Cameroon is insignificant for Y-chromosome studies as it represents a recent lineage.
Answer: False
The discovery of haplogroup A00 among the Mbo people of Cameroon is highly significant. It represents a very ancient lineage on the Y-chromosome phylogenetic tree, predating other known major Y-chromosome haplogroups, and strongly supports the hypothesis that the Y-chromosomal Most Recent Common Ancestor (Y-MRCA) originated in Africa.
The most basal Y-chromosome lineages are found predominantly in East Africa, suggesting the Y-MRCA lived there.
Answer: False
The most basal Y-chromosome lineages have been detected predominantly in West, Northwest, and Central Africa, not East Africa. This geographical distribution supports the hypothesis that the Y-chromosomal Most Recent Common Ancestor (Y-MRCA) likely originated in these regions of Africa.
What genetic evidence strongly supports the "recent African origin" model by showing greater diversity within African populations compared to non-African ones?
Answer: Comparative genetic diversity studies showing more variation within Africa.
The observation that African populations exhibit greater genetic diversity than non-African populations is a cornerstone of evidence supporting the recent African origin model. This pattern suggests a longer evolutionary history within Africa, with subsequent migrations out of Africa involving founder effects and sampling of only a portion of this diversity.
Haplogroups M and N are significant in human migration studies because they:
Answer: Are the primary mtDNA lineages found outside Africa, derived from L3.
Haplogroups M and N are the principal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages found in populations outside of Africa. They are direct descendants of the L3 haplogroup, which is believed to have been carried by individuals during the primary migration out of Africa, making M and N key markers for tracing these dispersals.
What did genetic studies confirm regarding the relationship between Homo sapiens and archaic hominins like Neanderthals and Denisovans?
Answer: Homo sapiens interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans, leaving genetic traces.
Genetic analyses, particularly from ancient DNA, have conclusively demonstrated that Homo sapiens populations outside of Africa interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans. This admixture is evident today as residual DNA in the genomes of non-African populations.
Which of the following is a key piece of evidence supporting the recent African origin theory derived from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis?
Answer: Human mtDNA is less diverse than chimpanzee mtDNA, suggesting a recent common ancestor.
The finding that human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) exhibits less diversity than that of chimpanzees was a critical piece of evidence supporting the recent African origin theory. It implies that the modern human lineage diverged relatively recently from a single ancestral population, consistent with an origin in Africa.
What does the relatively low genetic diversity found in non-African populations compared to African populations suggest?
Answer: A recent migration out of Africa involving a subset of the African genetic diversity.
The pattern of reduced genetic diversity in non-African populations, which largely mirrors diversity found within Africa, strongly suggests that these populations originated from a relatively small founding group that migrated out of Africa. This implies a bottleneck effect during the dispersal.
What did Y-chromosome analysis reveal about the geographic origin of the most recent common ancestor (Y-MRCA)?
Answer: The Y-MRCA likely lived in Africa.
Y-chromosome phylogenetic studies, including the identification of ancient lineages like haplogroup A00, consistently point to Africa as the continent of origin for the Y-chromosomal Most Recent Common Ancestor (Y-MRCA), reinforcing the 'recent African origin' model.
How does the distribution of haplogroup M across Asia and Oceania support migration theories?
Answer: Its presence along southern coastal regions supports the 'Great Coastal Migration' theory.
The widespread distribution of haplogroup M, particularly along the southern coastal regions from Arabia through India to Southeast Asia and Oceania, aligns with the 'Great Coastal Migration' theory, suggesting a primary dispersal route followed the southern rim of Asia.
What did the study of the JC virus suggest about its origins relative to human migration?
Answer: Basal African strains became extinct, and infection occurred post-migration.
Analysis of JC virus (JCV) strains suggests that either basal African strains became extinct or that the primary infection of humans with JCV occurred after the major migration events out of Africa, as the most basal strains are not exclusively found within Africa.
The discovery of haplogroup A00 among the Mbo people of Cameroon is significant because it:
Answer: Represents a very ancient Y-chromosome lineage, supporting an African origin.
Haplogroup A00 is a highly significant discovery in Y-chromosome studies because it represents one of the deepest and most ancient branches on the human Y-chromosome phylogenetic tree. Its presence in Africa provides strong support for the hypothesis that the Y-chromosomal Most Recent Common Ancestor (Y-MRCA) originated on the African continent.
The Toba volcanic eruption, occurring between 69,000 and 77,000 years ago, is definitively proven to have caused a severe bottleneck that drastically reduced the human population before the major Southern Dispersal.
Answer: False
While the Toba catastrophic volcanic eruption is a significant geological event that likely impacted global climate and populations, its role as a definitive, drastic bottleneck for the entire human population immediately preceding the major Southern Dispersal is a subject of ongoing scientific debate and research, not definitively proven fact.
The primary migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa is estimated to have occurred between 43,000 and 55,000 years ago, leading to the peopling of Europe.
Answer: False
While migrations into Europe occurred around 43,000-55,000 years ago, evidence suggests that significant dispersals out of Africa, particularly the 'Southern Route,' may have occurred earlier, potentially between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago. Some evidence also points to earlier, possibly less successful, migrations out of Africa.
The primary routes proposed for early modern human migration out of Africa include the Northern Route via the Nile Valley and the Southern Route across the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
Answer: True
Research indicates that early modern humans likely utilized multiple routes to disperse from Africa. The 'Northern Route,' potentially through the Nile Valley and Sinai, and the 'Southern Route,' crossing the Bab-el-Mandeb strait into the Arabian Peninsula, are considered the most significant early dispersal pathways.
Megadroughts in tropical Africa are hypothesized to have driven humans towards coastal areas, potentially facilitating migration across geographical barriers.
Answer: True
Environmental pressures, such as megadroughts in tropical Africa, are hypothesized to have played a role in human migration by potentially driving populations towards coastal regions. These areas may have offered more stable resources and facilitated movement across geographical barriers, such as the Red Sea.
The "Southern Dispersal" refers to a major migration event that likely followed the northern coastline of Asia after crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
Answer: False
The 'Southern Dispersal' refers to a major migration of Homo sapiens out of Africa, primarily believed to have followed the southern coastline of Asia, originating from the Arabian Peninsula after crossing the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. It did not involve crossing the Mediterranean Sea or following the northern coastline of Asia.
Which of the following is NOT considered one of the main proposed routes for early modern human migration out of Africa?
Answer: The Trans-Saharan Route through Central Africa
While multiple dispersal routes are considered, the Trans-Saharan Route through Central Africa is not typically cited as one of the primary pathways for the major early migrations of Homo sapiens out of Africa, unlike the Northern Route (via Nile/Sinai) and the Southern Route (across Bab-el-Mandeb).
The "Southern Route" for migration out of Africa is believed to have primarily followed which path?
Answer: Along the southern coastline of Asia, crossing the Red Sea.
The 'Southern Route' is hypothesized to have involved crossing the Bab-el-Mandeb strait from the Horn of Africa into the Arabian Peninsula, subsequently following the southern coastline of Asia eastward towards India and eventually Australia.
When did modern humans likely reach Australia, according to several studies cited in the source?
Answer: Between 65,000 and 50,000 years ago
Several studies suggest that modern humans arrived in Australia within the timeframe of 65,000 to 50,000 years ago, representing one of the earliest major dispersals out of Africa and across significant geographical distances.
The timing of the major "Southern Dispersal" out of Africa is debated in relation to which significant geological event?
Answer: The Toba catastrophic volcanic eruption
The timing of the major 'Southern Dispersal' out of Africa is often discussed in relation to the Toba catastrophic volcanic eruption, which occurred approximately 69,000 to 77,000 years ago. Debates exist on whether the dispersal occurred before, during, or after this event.
What role did climate, specifically megadroughts in tropical Africa, potentially play in human migration?
Answer: They forced humans towards coastal areas, potentially encouraging migration across barriers.
Hypotheses suggest that periods of megadrought in tropical Africa may have intensified resource scarcity, driving human populations towards more resource-rich coastal zones. These areas could have facilitated movement across geographical barriers, such as the Red Sea, contributing to dispersals out of Africa.
The "Grandmother hypothesis" suggests that the evolution of larger brains was facilitated by a trade-off with metabolically costly tissues like the gut.
Answer: False
The 'Grandmother hypothesis' posits that the post-reproductive lifespan of older females, contributing to the survival and upbringing of kin (grandchildren), provided an evolutionary advantage. The hypothesis concerning metabolic trade-offs between brain size and gut size is known as the 'Expensive tissue hypothesis'.
The "Killer ape theory" suggests that the development of hunting and aggression played a minor role in human evolution.
Answer: False
The 'Killer ape theory,' proposed by Raymond Dart, emphasizes the significant role that hunting, tool use, and aggression played in the evolutionary trajectory of hominins, suggesting these factors were central to our development, not minor.
The evolution of bipedalism is considered a minor factor in human evolution, primarily affecting locomotion efficiency.
Answer: False
The evolution of bipedalism is considered a fundamental and major development in human evolution. It freed the hands for tool use and carrying, potentially facilitated speech development, and allowed for more efficient long-distance travel and thermoregulation, playing a pivotal role in the hominin lineage's trajectory.
The "Expensive tissue hypothesis" suggests that the post-reproductive lifespan of older females was evolutionarily advantageous.
Answer: False
The 'Expensive tissue hypothesis' posits a metabolic trade-off between larger brains and smaller digestive systems. The concept related to the evolutionary advantage of the post-reproductive lifespan of older females contributing to kin survival is known as the 'Grandmother hypothesis'.
The "Expensive tissue hypothesis" relates human evolution to:
Answer: A metabolic trade-off between larger brains and smaller digestive systems.
The 'Expensive tissue hypothesis' proposes that the evolution of energetically costly large brains in humans was facilitated by a corresponding reduction in the metabolic cost of other tissues, notably the gut, suggesting dietary shifts and changes in energy allocation were key.
The "Grandmother hypothesis" proposes an evolutionary advantage related to:
Answer: The contribution of post-reproductive females to kin survival.
The 'Grandmother hypothesis' suggests that the extended post-reproductive lifespan of females provided an evolutionary benefit by allowing them to contribute to the survival and success of their grandchildren, thereby enhancing inclusive fitness.
Which hypothesis suggests that the evolution of larger human brains was linked to a reduction in the size of the gut due to dietary changes?
Answer: The Expensive Tissue Hypothesis
The 'Expensive tissue hypothesis' posits that the evolution of larger, metabolically demanding brains in humans was enabled by a concurrent reduction in the size and metabolic cost of the digestive system, likely driven by dietary shifts towards higher-quality foods.
The "Killer ape theory" proposed by Raymond Dart emphasizes the role of which factor in human evolution?
Answer: Hunting and aggression
Raymond Dart's 'Killer ape theory' posited that the development of hunting behaviors, coupled with increased aggression and the use of weapons, played a crucial role in the evolutionary success and development of hominins.