32. Vertebrates

In the primate phylogenetic tree below, fill in groups (a)–(e). Of the groups, which are anthropoids and which are apes?

What is the function of primase?

a. Synthesis of the repetitive, short double-stranded DNA sequences required by DNA polymerase.

b. Synthesis of a short RNA strand that is complementary to single-stranded DNA.

c. Closing the gap at the 3′ end of DNA after excision repair.

d. Removing primers and synthesizing a short section of DNA to replace them.

Most species of hominins are known only from Africa. Which species have been found in other parts of the world as well?

a. Early Homo—H. habilis and H. ergaster

b. H. erectus, H. neanderthalensis, and H. floresiensis

c. Gracile australopithecines

d. Robust australopithecines

As hominins diverged from other primates, which of the following appeared first?

a. Reduced jawbones

b. An enlarged brain

c. The making of stone tools

d. Bipedal locomotion

Fossils suggest that the first major trait distinguishing hominins from other primates was

a. A larger brain.

b. Erect posture.

c. Forward-facing eyes with depth perception.

d. Tool making.

Which of the following correctly lists possible ancestors of humans from the oldest to the most recent?

a. Homo erectus, Australopithecus, Homo habilis

b. Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus

c. Australopithecus, Homo erectus, Homo habilis

d. Homo ergaster, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis

Which of these is not a member of the anthropoids?

a. Chimpanzee

b. Tarsier

c. Human

d. New World monkey

What aspect of DNA structure makes it possible for the proteins of nucleotide excision repair to recognize many different types of DNA damage?

(a) the polarity of each DNA strand

Studies of DNA support which of the following?

a. Members of the group called australopiths were the first to migrate from Africa.

b. Homo sapiens originated in Africa.

c. Sahelanthropus was the earliest hominin.

d. Chimpanzees are more similar to gorillas and orangutans than to humans.

Draw a phylogeny of major populations of modern humans that would reject the out-of-Africa hypothesis.

The earliest members of the genus Homo

a. Had a larger brain compared to other hominins.

b. Probably hunted dinosaurs.

c. Lived about 4 million years ago.

d. Were the first hominins to be bipedal.

Humans possess which of the following traits? Select True or False for each trait. T/F triploblasty T/F parthenogenesis T/F viviparity T/F metamorphosis

Genetic diversity in living human populations is highest in Africa and decreases as a function of distance traveled by the human migration that left Africa many millennia ago. Draw a graph to show this trend. (Hint: What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? What kind of graph is appropriate for this kind of data? Add a label where you would expect to find a data point for the Yanomamö tribe of the Amazon rain forest in South America. Why is it important to use indigenous people for this study?

One of the misconceptions about human evolution is expressed in the question 'If chimpanzees were our ancestors, then why do chimpanzees still exist?' Use Figure 19.10A to explain the answer.