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Journal of Biological Education,
Volume 43, Number 3, Summer 2009.
Reviewed by: Jean Wilson,
Biozone is a widely used series of educational resources. In the latest edition two of the modules focus on evolution. Jean Wilson, head of Science at Blackpool & the Fylde College.
Human Evolution
Price: £49.95
200 slides
The general information provided in the review on Evolution applies to the presentation on Human Evolution.
The three files on this CD-ROM provide an exciting collection of slides on topic areas that include Primate Evolution, Hominin Evolution and Cultural Evolution.
Primate Evolution
This presentation (58 slides) begins with a phylogenetic tree for primates, an outline of their classification and a taxonomic key, and continues with genetic divergence.
Ancestral primates are considered but the emphasis is on groups and individual primate species. The taxonomy, habitat, diet, locomotion, social structure, behaviour and distribution are provided for each species. The Prosimians include the Aye-aye, Ring-tailed Lemur, Ruffed Lemur, Philippine Tarsier and Slender Loris. The features and examples of species for other groups, namely the New World Monkeys and Old World Monkeys, the Hominoids and Hominids (both the extinct and Homo sapiens) are illustrated. A number of slides deal with the physical primate characteristics such as skulls, tails, feet, hands and limbs, as well as the genetic similarity of primates. Primate evolution concludes with evidence for the effect of continental drift, ancestral apes and bipedalism.
Hominin Evolution (100 slides)
The term Hominin is used correctly throughout the text to reflect the evolutionary change of what it means to be human.
The presentation begins with a few slides which detail human characteristics and in particular skull anatomy. A 1960s view of Human Evolution is considered, based on the fossil evidence that was available at the time. This is followed by a modern view which maintains that Human Evolution occurred as a series of adaptive radiations. A timeline traces our ancestors back seven million years to emphasise the idea of adaptive radiation. The presentation goes on to ask us to consider selection for nakedness and bi-pedalism associated with the exploitation of new environments. Lucy, the earliest known biped, is used as an example of this feature.
Bi-pedalism brought many changes to primate anatomy, including the spine, carrying angle, foot and knee anatomy, skull and dentition. Since the 1990s a considerable number of new, early Hominins have been discovered and these are featured in a series of slides, an example of which includes pygmy species discovered on the Island of Flores in Indonesia. However, we are given details of Sahelthropus tchadensis, Orrorin tugensis, Ardipithecus ramidus, Australopithecus anamenis, A. bahrelgazi, A.garhi, A. afarensis, A. africanus, Kenyanthropus platyops, Paranthropus aethiopicus, P. robustus, P. boisei, Homo habilis, H. georgicus, H. ergaster, H. erectus, H. heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensis, H. floesiensis, H. antecessor and H. sapiens which include details of their physical features such as skull size and the regions where they lived.
The final slides deal with the two theories associated with the origin of modern humans: the Multi-regional hypothesis and the Replacement hypothesis. The dispersal of modern humans and evolution of parts of the brain - in particular the speech and language areas - are also covered.
Cultural Evolution
Set 3 (41 slides) of this scientifically-illustrated, detailed and informative CD-ROM deals with the main feature which set man apart from other primate species, namely culture. Along with the increase in brain capacity came the development of increasingly complex behaviour which is analysed and then considered chronologically, beginning with the Palaeolithic phase of prehistoric time.
The use of stone tools which first appeared 2.5 million years ago increased in sophistication throughout the Old Stone Age and was soon followed by the use of fire. These events are dealt with in some detail, beginning with the methods employed in the making of tools and their engineering for a specific task. The ritualised burial practised by the Neanderthals of Europe and South West Asia and their creative abilities are considered. Two slides are devoted to the relatively complex human innovation required to hunt big game; this is food for thought and could be used to stimulate debate.
Modern humans experienced a cultural explosion about 35,000 years ago that gave rise to prehistoric art which reflected spiritual thinking and satisfied their need to leave a record of their existence. The pace at which cultural evolution proceeded is manifested in the final nine slides where the last 10,000 years are marked by the cultivation of plant species, the domestication of animals and the Copper and Bronze Age; they also reflect on the selection pressures experienced by the human body today and what they may be in the future.
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