BIOL 350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Neanderthal, Homo Erectus, Social Intelligence
13 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Major effects of natural selection on humans under a changing climate: bipedalism, larger brain. Group living/social intelligence: both caused cost: difficulty in birth. Large brain and narrow hips needed to stand upright. Cost: premature babies need constant care for a long time. Solution: social flexibility: males became more involved, communal care. Beginning of homo sapiens (200,000-400,000 bp: behavioural plasticity in learning, big game hunting. Women did show signs of ovulation so men wouldn"t be distracted and go hunting (theory) 100,000 bp- use of fire: uses. Warmth, light, ward off predators, cooking: allows: Cooking allows more energy to be obtained from food. More nutrients for larger brain instead of large digestive tract. Less time and energy for preparing heat. Dominates africa, last to leave because youngest. Dominates europe and western asia: great leap forward, human spark. Summarized: consciousness and imagination, sense of time, sense of self worth/esteem. Awareness of mortality: accept the fate of your own death (phil.
