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.