Humans & others mammals - Essay Example

Anthropology Part I The topic of evolution has been explained in different ways. Many theories that explain evolution have been developed. Most of the theories have been criticized since people have different opinions to them. However, the differences and similarities that are evident in humans and other mammals are a definite proof that evolution took place (Barton 34). This paper will discuss the different similarities and differences in mammals and how they prove that evolution occurred.Apes are mammals, belong to the Hominidae family and the species Homo sapiens, can be used to compare humans and other mammals.

Animals like the chimpanzees, apes and bonobos are good examples which through their anatomy and behaviors, prove that evolution is real. The organization of internal organs in the African apes and the human beings is similar. The bone structure is similar and they only differ in shape and size. Human beings however lack tails and this depicts that at one point the humans were analogous to the African apes but they have evolved over time. All mammals are sexually dimorphic in that males are larger than females by about 5-10% (Barton 79).

This shows humans are similar to other mammals and are only superior because they have evolved over time.Evolution principles show that body features develop based on habitual bipedalism. The hands of humans are shorter than those of apes. This is because they locomote more using their hands rather than legs. Similarly the legs of human beings are longer than those of apes. The human pelvis and the spinal column are adapted in such a way that the humans remain erect and offer more stability for waking and running.

This adaptation is believed to have been achieved due to the competition between humans and other mammals and is evidence that evolution took place. Scientists have proved that the shape of the brain in apes and in humans is similar. However, they differ in size. This increase in the size of the brain proves that evolution has taken place. Human females reach the menopause stage at one point in life. However, other mammals like chimpanzees, apes and gorillas do not become sterile at any stage in life.

The Scientific explanation of this difference is based on human selection that is a factor that proves evolution (Barton 211).Male Bonobos protect the female bonobos. This characteristic is also present in other mammals such as apes. Human beings also have the same character of males protecting the females. This similarity shows a connection in the origin of humans and apes. The changes in the body features might have occurred due to evolution. All mammals show social behaviors which is also present in humans.

They live and associate in families. The females take care of the young ones while the males look for food. The same behavioral characteristic is present in human being and this indicates that humans are similar to other mammals and hence evolution has taken place.Part IIThe agricultural revolution brought about many changes in the lives of human being. It was a gradual change in the lifestyle of human beings and had both positive and negative implications. The agrarian revolution was influenced by the high competition for food that had come about due to increased population of the humans and animals.

Both animals and humans were dying of hunger since the environment could not sustain the big population. Agriculture offered more food as compared to that the environment could produce at that time. The death rate was reduced and hence the longevity of human beings was promoted. Agriculture produced foods of different kind. People were able to have access to eat variety of foods and hence their body health was improved.The agricultural revolution brought about the settling nature of human beings.

They stopped moving from place to place since they had to concentrate on their farms. Due to this they build houses to live and they protected them from adverse weather conditions. Living in houses helped improve their health and reduced the previously high morbidity rate. With a good supply of food and reduced morbidity, mortality rate consequently reduced.Works CitedBarton, Nicholas H. Evolution. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 2007. Print.