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Name: ___________________________ Class: ______________________ Date: ____________________

Human Evolution Comparing Primates

BackgroundAccording to the theory of evolution, all species are are related and linked to a common ancestor. Species that are

more closely related have common ancestor that existed much more recently, hile species that are distantly related

may have to go !ack hundreds of millions of years to find a common ancestor.

"he closest living relatives to theHomo sapiens, the human species, are primates. "his la! ill compare many of

the physical and !iochemical characteristics !eteen this group of animals.

Comparative Anatomy#xamine the draings of the hands of five different primates shon !elo. $ill out the ta!le of o!servations.

Source: %iology: "he Dynamics of &ife "ext!ook

Primate Opposable Thumb? Length of Thumb (cm) Claws or Nails?

Written by James Daurayhttp://www.docstoc.com/profile/jamesdauray

Page '

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Name: ___________________________ Class: ______________________ Date: ____________________

Compare the skeletons of the human and gorilla shon !elo.

Source: %iology: "he (e! of &ife "ext!ook

Characteristic Human Gorilla Eplain of !ifferences

)elvis Shape

*a Si+e

Spine Shape

%one Arrangement of

$eet

verall -eight

Arms &onger "han &egs

. (hat similarities do you see !eteen the human and gorilla skeleton/

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Name: ___________________________ Class: ______________________ Date: ____________________

Scale draings of skulls of the gorilla, modern humans, and a human ancestor calledAustralopithecus

africanusare shon !elo. #xamine each skull, paying special attention to the si+e of the !rain cavity, the 0asi+e, and the 0a angle. 1ecord all measurements on the ta!le.

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Name: ___________________________ Class: ______________________ Date: ____________________

Source: %iology: "he Dynamics of &ife "ext!ook

Gorilla "ustralopithecus #o$ern Human

$acial Area 2cm3

2&ength x idth3

Cranial Area 2cm3

2&ength x idth3

1atio of Cranial Area to

$acial Area

Cranial Capacity 2cm43

25r3

Angle of *a

&ength of 6ncisors 2cm3

)resence of %ro 1idge

)resence of Sagittal Crest

4. Summari+e the physical differences !eteen the 0as of the gorilla, Australopithecus, and modern human.(hat does the 0a si+e suggest a!out ho the diets of each species differ/

7. Summari+e the physical differences !eteen the craniums of the gorilla, Australopithecus, and modern

human. (hat does this difference tell you a!out each species/

8. 9iven the comparisons you made !eteen each skull, hich species is most closely related to humans, the

gorilla, or Australopithecus/ *ustify your anser ith specific data.

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Name: ___________________________ Class: ______________________ Date: ____________________

Molecular BiologyAnimals ith red !lood each have a large protein molecule called hemoglo!in in their !lood cells. -emoglo!in

is needed to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the !ody. -emoglo!in, like all proteins, is made of

amino acids.

%elo is a summary of some of the amino acids of hemoglo!in. )artial seuences are given for humans,

chimpan+ees, gi!!ons, gorillas, a monkey, and a mouse. Seuences that are identical for all animals areskipped.

$or each non;human animal, take a highlighter and mark any amino acids that are different than the humanseuence. (hen you finish, record ho many differences you found in the ta!le on the next page.

4 5 6 9 ! " # "! "5 ## 4 4# 5! 5 5"

Human T P E S A T A V G V F E T P D

Chimpanzee T P E S A T A V G V F E T P D

Gibbon T P E S A T A V G V F E T P D

Gorilla T P E S A T A V G V F E T P D

New WorldMonke

T P E N A T T V G ! F E S P D

Mou"e T D A A A S C S G V # D S A S

54 56 5$ 6$ 69 %! % %" %# %5 %6 %% $! $% !4

Human V G P ! G A F S D ! A H N T $

Chimpanzee V G P ! G A F S D ! A H N T $

Gibbon V G P ! G A F S D ! A H N % $Gorilla V G P ! G A F S D ! A H N T &

New WorldMonke

V G P ! G A F S D ! N H N % &

Mou"e ' G A ' T A F N D ! N H S S $

!9 ! " 5 6 % $ " "5 "6 #! #9

Human V ! C A H H F E P V # N

Chimpanzee V ! C A H H F E P V # N

Gibbon V ! C A H H F E % V # N

Gorilla V ! C A H H F E P V # N

New WorldMonke

V ! C A H H F E % V # N

Mou"e M ' ' G H H ! D A A F T

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"nimal Number of "mino "ci$ !ifferences Compare$

to Human Hemoglobin

Chimpan+ee

9i!!on

Ne (orld