Devon+K.


 * Human Evolution**

Human evolution is the lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors. Scientific evidence shows that the physical and behavioral traits shared by all people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately six million years.

One of the earliest defining human traits, bipedalism -- the ability to walk on two legs -- evolved over 4 million years ago. Other important human characteristics -- such as a large and complex brain, the ability to make and use tools, and the capacity for language -- developed more recently. Many advanced traits -- including complex symbolic expression, art, and elaborate cultural diversity -- emerged mainly during the past 100,000 years. Humans are primates. Physical and genetic similarities show that the modern human species, //Homo sapiens//, has a very close relationship to another group of primate species, the apes. Humans and the great apes (large apes) of Africa -- chimpanzees (including bonobos, or so-called “pygmy chimpanzees”) and gorillas -- share a common ancestor that lived between 8 and 6 million years ago. Humans first evolved in Africa, and much of human evolution occurred on that continent. The fossils of early humans who lived between 6 and 2 million years ago come entirely from Africa. Most scientists currently recognize some 15 to 20 different species of early humans. Scientists do not all agree, however, about how these species are related or which ones simply died out. Many early human species -- certainly the majority of them – left no living descendants. Scientists also debate over how to identify and classify particular species of early humans, and about what factors influenced the evolution and extinction of each species.

Early humans first migrated out of Africa into Asia probably between 2 million and 1.8 million years ago. They entered Europe somewhat later, between 1.5 million and 1 million years. Species of modern humans populated many parts of the world much later. For instance, people first came to Australia probably within the past 60,000 years and to the Americas within the past 30,000 years or so. The beginnings of agriculture and the rise of the first civilizations occurred within the past 12,000 years.

Louis Leakey examining skull from Olduval George, Tanzania

Human Migration Map

Skeletons of Homo Sapiens Common ancestors

media type="youtube" key="6PZYYIaB0UY" width="560" height="315"


 * References**
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_evolution
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_human_evolution
 * http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/human-evolution-101

=__**History of Pedigree**__ **Dogs**=

Dogs have changed drastically over time especially the common breeds of dogs that are known as pedigrees. I have a pedigree dog myself, it is a purebred chocolate Lab.



She was bred from two different parents to avoid the whole factor of what could happen when inbreeding comes into play with dogs. She was bred from two different champion show dogs. She came with the tattoo of authenticity in her ear. It is no longer there.

When it comes to inbreeding dogs multiple different things can happen. There was a documentary released by BBC One that investigates into the past of what purebreds use to be like compared to what they are like now and what kind of diseases that these dogs will possibly carry due to inbreeding. One dog they used in this documentary to show the proof of what happens to dogs during in breeding was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that was suffering from syringomyelia.This is a disease in which the brain is to big for the skull. In the BBC One documentary veterinary neurologist Dr. Clair Rusbridge described the brain as a "size 10 foot that is being shoved into a size 6 shoe" and estimated that 1/3 of this breed will and is suffering from this disease due to inbreeding. This breed also suffers from heart diseases. BBC One interviewed a Cardiologist by the name of Simon Swift who explained that about half of all Cavaliers aged 5 would have heart murmurs and the rate increases, such that by age 10 to 11 almost all Cavaliers would have the condition.

Some dogs have changed so drastically it is amazing that these breeds are still living to this day. This is the same dog, they are both Bull Terriers. But the one to the left is the very first from 1915 and the one beside it is what they look like now. This is all because of inbreeding and natural selection.

these are both bulldogs the one on the right is from the early tears and the one on the right is what they look like now.

Inbreeding is the deliberate breeding of mother to son, father to daughter or brother to sister. This is what they call inbreeding which is causing all if these genetic faults within dogs.

media type="youtube" key="aCv10_WvGxo" width="560" height="315" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedigree_Dogs_Exposed https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_Terrier https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCv10_WvGxo

U can also visit these sites for more information http://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/pedigreedogs/meaning http://www.pedigree.com/all-things-dog/breed-gallery/