Option D 3 Human Evolution Assessment Statements

D 3.1 Outline the method for dating rocks and fossils using radioisotopes, with reference to 14C

and 40K.

State two radioactive isotopes that can be used to date (find the age of) fossils or rocks

containing fossils. (state: Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation

or calculation)

State how 14C is created.

State how 14C is deposited into living organisms.

State when 14C stops being deposited into living organisms.

Deduce why the ratio of 14C to 12C changes when an organism dies.

Outline how 40K can be used to date fossils or rocks containing fossils. (Outline Give a brief

account or summary)

State the accuracy of using 14C and 40K to date fossils and rocks containing fossils.

D.3.2 Define half-life:

Define half-life:

State the half life of C14 and K40.

D.3.3 Deduce the approximate age of materials based on a simple decay curve for a radioisotope.

Deduce the half life of 131I

What percentage of iodine

131 will be left after 20

days?

After how many days will

there be 1/3 of the original

iodine 131 left?

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D 3.4 Describe the major anatomical features that define humans as primates.

Feature Function & Details

Grasping pentadactyl limbs

Eyes on the front of the head

Reduced snout

Shoulder joint

Large skull & large brain

D 3.5 Outline the trends illustrated by the fossils of Ardipithecus ramidus, Australopithecus

including A. afarensis and A. africanus, and Homo including H. habilis, H. erectus, H.

neanderthalensis and H. sapiens.

Describe each of the following species of hominids, including age, diet, range, environment, and

variation. (use Hominid Profiles at www.becominghuman.org/node/interactive-documentary )

Ardipithecus ramidus

Australopithecus afarensis

Australopithecus africanus

Homo habilis

Homo erectus

Homo neanderthalensis

Homo sapiens

Ardipithecus ramidus Australopithecus afarensis

Australopithecus africanus

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Homo neanderthalensis Homo sapiens

Observe the fossil skulls in the pictures and describe any changes you see in the:

Brain case:

Length of face:

Brow Ridges:

Jaw shape:

D 3.6 State that, at various stages in hominid evolution, several species may have coexisted.

Construct a timeline showing the periods of time that the above species of hominids are thought

to have lived. (Construct: represent or develop in graphical form)

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D 3.7 Discuss the incompleteness of the fossil record and the resulting uncertainties about human

evolution.

Links to TOK to be discussed in class.

Define data poor:

State reasons why the fossil record is incomplete.

1) Fossils are rarely formed because….

a)

b)

c)

2) Small number of fossils found because….

a)

b)

Discuss the impact of additional data (new fossils) on our ideas about hominid evolution. How

well are scientists able to construct the lineage of humans when there are large gaps in the fossil

record? (Discuss Give an account including, where possible, a range of arguments for and

against the relative importance of various factors, or comparisons of alternative hypotheses)

D.3.8 Discuss the correlation between the change in diet and increase in brain size during hominid

evolution.

1) Benefits of a bigger brain

a) Tools

b) Fire

c) Behavior

2) Costs of a bigger brain

a) Gestation

b) Brain development in young

c) Care for young

d) Energy requirements

3) Results of bigger brain on diet

a) Switched from eating mostly _______ & ___________ to eating a lot of _________.

b) Hunting requires ___________ & communication (needs bigger brains too)

D.3.9 Distinguish between genetic and cultural evolution.

Define genetic evolution:

Define cultural evolution:

Distinguish between the two. (Distinguish: to give the differences between two or more

different items)

D.3.10 Discuss the relative importance of genetic and cultural evolution in the recent evolution of

humans.

Links to TOK to be discussed in class.

Does the fossil evidence of humans suggest gradualism or punctuated equilibrium?

How have humans changed genetically in the past 100,000 years?

Does human culture evolve following the pattern of gradualism or punctuated equilibrium?

How have humans changed culturally over the past 100,000 years? (Think about different stages

of cultural development- ie nomadic, agricultural, industrial)

Compare genetic and cultural evolution for humans over the past 100,000 years.