Out-of-Africa TheoryThe Origin Of Modern Humans.ppt

Out-of-Africa Theory:The Origin Of Modern Humans Presented By Adrian Padilla Background Information First species of Homo, Homo habilis, evolved in Africa around 2 million years ago. Later, a descendant of Homo habilis, Homo erectus evolved (along with other hominids), and spread out of Africa. Homo erectus gave rise to Homo sapiens around 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. Two Main Theories Out of Africa Theory (OOA) – suggests that Homo erectus evolved into Homo sapiens in Africa, and then ventured out of Africa and dispersed to all around the world. Multi-regional Evolution Theory – suggests that Homo erectus ventured out of Africa and then evolved into modern man in several different locations through out the world. Genetic Tools to Find the Answer Fossil records DNA sequencing Mitochondrial DNA analysis (mtDNA) Maternally inherited, therefore telling the story from the female side of human history Y Chromosome analysis Inherited down the paternal line, complementing the mtDNA Microsatellite DNA analysis Segments of tandemly repeated DNA with a short repeat length, usually 2-5 nucleotides Polymorphisms Polymorphism - Existence of a gene in several allelic forms. Polymorphic regions provide a very unique set of genetic markers for studying human origin and migratory patterns. Used to construct a global evolutionary tree of modern man Mitochondrial DNA Out-of-Africa hypothesis was first sketched out in 1987, based on mitochondrial DNA analysis Suggested that modern man first appeared on the scene in eastern Africa about 150,000 years ago, and left between 35,000 and 89,000 years ago, eventually conquering the globe. Y Chromosomal DNA Study Researchers looked at DNA samples from 12,000 male Y chromosomes in Asia. Looking for 3 specific mutations on the Y chromosome known to have originated in Africa. Researches found that every one of the 12,000 samples carried one of the three mutations or polymorphism Conclusion to the Y Chromosome Study Little or no interbreedi