The Complete Human Evolution Evidence Database

August 19, 2012

The Missing Links of The Scientific Theory of Evolution?

First, lets debunk the #1 Myth that most creationists still try to use:

Q: If we evolved from (Insert Primate of choice), why are there still apes today?

Richard Dawkins: Why are there still Chimpanzees?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh0F4FBLJRE

Humans did not evolve from present-day apes. Rather, humans and apes share a common ancestor that gave rise to both. This common ancestor, although not identical to modern apes, was almost certainly more apelike than humanlike in appearance and behavior. At some point – scientists estimate that between 5 and 8 million years ago – this species diverged into two distinct lineages, one of which were the hominids, or humanlike species, and the other ultimately evolved into the African great ape species living today. Humans and their fellow apes, such as chimpanzees and orangutans, are closer cousins.

But, even if humans were indeed descended from monkeys, it would still be a spectacularly silly question to ask. While it is true that newly evolved species often replace the species they evolved from, this does not always have to be the case. It is like asking, “If I am descended from my grandfather, how come my grandfather is still alive?”

Human Evolution: Did We Come From Monkeys?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igq_niFmXNs

Firstly, man did not evolve from modern apes. Man and modern apes share a common ancestor, which is extinct. However, the question comes from a flawed understanding of how evolution works. Evolution is not a straight line, where entire populations change into new species all at the same time. Often times, a small group breaks away from a population and begins to evolve independently of the source group. The source group does not need to go extinct, and is generally unaffected by the development of the smaller group. This is called “Allopatric Speciation,” and it is just one of many ways that new species can evolve. There is nothing in evolutionary theory which states a source population must go extinct in order for new species to evolve.

~Dr. Paul Willis, palaeontologist and Director of RIAus:

“Firstly, humans did not evolve from monkeys. Instead, monkeys and humans share a common ancestor from which both evolved around 25 million years ago.

This evolutionary relationship is supported both by the fossil record and DNA analysis. A 2007 study showed that humans and rhesus monkeys share about 93% of their DNA. Based on the similarities and differences between the two types of DNA, scientists have estimated that humans and rhesus monkeys diverged from their common ancestor 25 million years ago.

Similarly, the fossil record has identified ancestors common to both humans and monkeys, such as an as yet unnamed primate fossil from Myanmar found in 2009 and dated as living around 37 million years ago.”

Our closer cousins

Humans are actually more closely related to chimpanzees and other apes, but DNA evidence again shows that we didn’t evolve from them. Chimps and humans share between 98 to 99% of DNA suggesting that we shared a common ancestor around 6 million years ago.

Evolution is not linear

“The idea of sharing a common ancestor leads to the second major misunderstanding inherent in the question,” says Dr Willis, “that evolution is a linear process where one species evolves into another.”

Evolution is really a branching process where one species can give rise to two or more species.

“The fallacy of linear evolution is most clearly illustrated by the analogy of asking; how can I share common grandparents with my cousins if my cousins and my grandparents are still alive?,” says Dr Willis.

“The answer is of course that your grandparents had more than one child and they each went off and started their own families creating new branches of your own family tree.”

The same thing happens in evolutionary families. A species can split into two or more descendant species and they can split again and again across the generations.

If we evolved from apes, why are there still apes today?

Huh?? Scientists think that one group of apes, in response to their environment, started evolving in a way that would eventually lead to humanity (and many other now-extinct hominids). Why on earth should that cause the rest of the apes to go extinct? It’s as silly as saying “If I am descended from Irish ancestors [which I am], why are there still Irish people around?” (Yes, I’m aware that I haven’t evolved from my Irish forebears; the point is that whatever happened to my ancestors, it didn’t affect the rest of the Irish population.)

If you don’t believe me, please note that the leading creationist organization Answers in Genesis agrees with me, and now lists this argument in their Arguments we think creationists should NOT use web page.

http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers/topic/arguments-we-dont-use#apes

How Do We Know Humans Are Primates?

Besides similar anatomy and behavior, there is DNA evidence. It confirms that humans are primates and that modern humans and chimpanzees diverged from a common ancestor between 8 and 6 million years ago. There is only about a 1.2 percent genetic difference between modern humans and chimpanzees throughout much of their genetic code.

Story Of Human Evolution (History Channel) 1hr 29 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-x730uNY5Q

Renowned paleoanthropologists Donald Johanson and Richard Leakey shared the stage at the American Museum of Natural History on May 5 to discuss the overwhelming evidence for evolution in the hominid fossil record and why understanding our evolutionary history is so important. The discussion, before a sold-out crowd in the Museum’s LeFrak Theater, was moderated by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBZ8o-lmAsg

Introduction to Human Evolution and evidence

http://humanorigins.si.edu/resources/intro-human-evolution

Introduction: Human Evolution

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9990-introduction-human-evolution.html?full=true

Did Humans Evolve From Ancestral Great Apes?

DNA may prove so. Crash Course In DNA

http://www.bradyns-blog.com/2011/01/dna.html

How To Shut Up Pesky Creationists - Easy to understand evidence for a common ape-like human/chimp ancestor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK3O6KYPmEw

~See the evidence in person:

Visit the Smithsonian Institution http://www.si.edu/

The world’s largest museum and research complex, with 19 museums, 9 research centers and more than 140 affiliate museums around the world.

http://www.si.edu/About

http://www.si.edu/Visit

http://www.si.edu/Visit/Hours

http://www.si.edu/Visit/Maps

On March 17, 2010, the Museum marked its 100th anniversary on the National Mall with the public opening of our newest exhibition hall – the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins. This exhibition is based on decades of cutting-edge research by Smithsonian scientists, and is the result of an international collaboration with over 60 research and educational organizations and over 100 researchers from around the world. The David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins offers visitors an immersive, interactive journey through 6 million years of scientific evidence for human origins and the stories of survival and extinction in our family tree during times of dramatic climate instability.

http://humanorigins.si.edu/

http://humanorigins.si.edu/exhibit

http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-evolution-timeline-interactive

Human Family Tree

http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-family-tree

How do humans evolve?

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/evolution/how-do-humans-evolve.htm

22 ARTICLES IN: HUMAN EVOLUTION

http://evolution.about.com/od/humans/

Human Evolution

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/275670/human-evolution

Massive Research - Fossil Hominids - The Evidence for Human Evolution

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/

Early Transitional Humans

http://anthro.palomar.edu/homo/homo_1.htm

Hominid Species

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/species.html

Neanderthal genes ‘survive in us’

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8660940.stm

Ken Miller on Human Evolution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi8FfMBYCkk

Discovering Religion: Ep 10 - Neanderthal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeTQ7Igu_Jw&feature=related

Discovering Religion: Ep 11 - Human Origin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHxy_wTJfgU&feature=related

Discovering Religion: Ep 12 - Arrival of Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUh_C-pwWQo

'Why Evolution Is True’ Jerry Coyne, Richard Dawkins, AAI 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqGX08Og4CE

Richard Dawkins: Who Was the First Human?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ClZROoyNM

How To Shut Up Pesky Creationists - Easy to understand evidence for a common ape-like human/chimp ancestor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK3O6KYPmEw&feature=related

Darwinian Selection Continues to Influence Human Evolution

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430152037.htm

Darwin Lives! Modern Humans Are Still Evolving

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931757,00.html

Paleoartist Brings Human Evolution to Life

For Elisabeth Daynès, sculpting ancient humans and their ancestors is both an art and a science

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/bringing-human-evolution-life-180951155/?no-ist

~The evolution of our species ***Fabulous images!!***

Meet the grandparents: Researchers use forensics to rebuild 27 faces of man’s ancestors, stretching back 7 million years

Models built from forensic reconstruction of fossil skulls

Reconstructs face age when humans and chimps shared common ancestry

Ancestors from when 'hominids’ first emerged in Africa

Exhibition uses forensics to rebuild 27 faces of man’s ancestors, stretching back 7m years. An exhibition in Dresden, Germany has used forensic technology to recreate distant members of the human 'family’ - including faces from when human beings and chimps had one ancestor.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2083262/Exhibition-uses-forensics-rebuild-27-faces-mans-ancestors-stretching-7m-years.html

~Evolution takes Asian refuge - Fossil suggests new hominid species: Stone Age cavemen 'Red deer people’ discovered in China

The humanoids are a mix of ancient and modern, and lived in Asia until 11,000 years ago - when it was thought homo sapiens had few rivals in the continent.

An incredible find was publicized just earlier - fossils remains from stone age people were unearthed from two caves in China. Upon further inspection it was found that the bone features, particularly skulls, were unlike any other human or early ancestor remains ever found, suggesting that the researchers may have actually found a new species. Mysterious hominid fossils found in China hint towards a new human species.

See a collection of 19 articles on this:

http://www.sciencenewsdaily.org/archaeology-fossils-news/cluster140817910/

~Human Fossils

Transitional Fossils of Hominid Skulls

http://www.theistic-evolution.com/transitional.html

Fossil Evidence

http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils

Welcome to our 3D collection of fossils, artifacts, primates, and other animals. The purpose of this collection is to allow you to view your favorite objects from our David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins and to help you share your museum experience with your friends and family. Before our exhibit opened, the objects on display were either CT or laser scanned. The scanning process enabled Human Origins Progam staff to generate 3D models of each object that you can view, rotate, and interact with online. It may take a minute or two to load depending on your computer, but after it is loaded you will be able to move the 3D object around by holding down the left-click button and moving your mouse.

http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/3d-collection/fossil

Explore our human fossil collection, including photographs and 3D rotatable scans of hundreds of fossils from different species of early humans.

We’re consistently adding more fossils to this collection, along with more photographs and 3D scans; check back again soon and see if you can find something new!

How Do We Know These Are Human Fossils?

They all have two features that distinguish humans from other apes, living and extinct.

Both males and females have small canine teeth.

The hole where the spinal cord enters the braincase is located toward the center—a clue to walking upright.

Human

Small canines in males

Spinal cord enters braincase farther forward

Chimpanzee

Large canines in males

Spinal cord enters braincase farther back

https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/fossils

Prominent Hominid Fossils

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/specimen.html

New Fossils Put Face on Mysterious Human Ancestor

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/08/new-fossils-put-face-on-mysterio.html?ref=hp

Early Human Ancestor, Australopithecus Sediba, Fossils Discovered in Rock

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120712162744.htm

Scientists unearth early skeleton

US and Ethiopian scientists say they have discovered the fossilised remains of one of the earliest human ancestors.

The research team, working in the north-east of Ethiopia, believe the remains of the hominid, or primitive human, date back four million years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4322687.stm

D2700, Homo georgicus: It’s hard to imagine a more convincing series of transitional fossils.

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/d2700.html

Welcome to our hall of hominid fossils. Have a glance at these remains of ancient individuals which provide the basis for much of our understanding of physical limits and appearance of our near and distant relatives. Choose a fossil at right or left.

http://archaeologyinfo.com/hall-of-skulls/

~Evolution of the Human Brain

Evolutionary Increase in Size of the Human Brain Explained: Part of a Protein Linked to Rapid Change in Cognitive Ability

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120816141537.htm

Scientists Show How a Gene Duplication Helped Our Brains Become 'Human’

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503125720.htm

Creationist Arguments: Brain Sizes

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/a_brains.html

Evolutionary psychologist Steven Pinker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfm-q7oBr3Q

Becoming Human is an interactive documentary experience that tells the story of our origins. Journey through four million years of human evolution with your guide, Donald Johanson.

http://www.becominghuman.org/

Genomic Study of Africa’s Hunter-Gatherers Elucidates Human Variation and Ancient Interbreeding

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120726122118.htm

Modern culture began in South Africa 44,000 years ago

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22121-modern-culture-began-in-south-africa-44000-years-ago.html

Uranium-Series Dating Reveals Iberian Paintings Are Europe’s Oldest Cave Art. El Castillo cave wall. (Credit: Pedro Saura)

Paleolithic paintings in El Castillo cave in Northern Spain date back at least 40,800 years – making them Europe’s oldest known cave art

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120614142840.htm

Bonobo Genome Completed: The Final Great Ape to Be Sequenced

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120613133144.htm

Refugees from the Ice Age: How Was Europe Repopulated?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508094358.htm

Institute of Human Origins

http://iho.asu.edu/

Human Evolution - Research Center

http://herc.berkeley.edu/

THE KOOBI FORA REGION has, over the last 35 years of exploration, produced a wealth of paleontological, geological and archaeological data. Research in the area has revealed a complex history of volcanism, tectonics and sedimentary cycles preserving fluvial and lake phases of the basin. Some 16,000 fossil specimens have been collected from the Turkana basin, almost 10,000 from the Koobi Fora Region. This includes an impressive 350 hominid specimens from the basin and this has contributed significantly to our present understanding of human origins and hominid diversity through time. Hominid behaviour, including tool use, has been interpreted from the archaeological remains. The huge collection of fossil mammals provides an opportunity to trace the evolution of numerous mammalian lineages back in time.

http://www.kfrp.com/research-2/