Matt+Ru.

= = Post #2 5/6/2016 Matt Russell =Human Evolution=

====Between 6-8 million years ago, we began a journey as a species that is like no other we know. With 15-20 different species of early humans, with a big majority of species leaving no living descendants, how did we get to where we are now? Was it all just by chance or was it "destined" to happen eventually?====

=How it works=

====Evolution is not simply a process of chance, but at the same time it follows no real guidelines or plan, its a process that requires both random chance, as well as something called natural selection. The "chance" portion of evolutionary change involves mutations. There are three different kind of mutations, beneficial, neutral and harmful. Neutral mutations, as you would expect. cause no change to the organism, rendering the mutation essentially useless, where as beneficial and harmful mutations are essentially the deciding factors of what organisms will continue or cease to exist. If a mutation is beneficial, it provides an advantage to the organism over those around it, making it more likely and easier for it to survive, as well as reproduce which will then provide its offspring with the beneficial gene, passing on whatever advantage it provided.====

=Natural Selection=

====The process of Natural Selection however, is not something that works off of chance. This undertaking works in a way that, for example, there is a species of hairy animals that inhabit deserts, one species that has a mutation for longer hair, would be much more likely to have problems with over heating, and would most likely die off (example of harmful mutation). Where as an individual with a mutation for shorter hair, would fair much better in the hot environment (beneficial mutation). Natural Selection in a way, functions as mother natures way of choosing which organisms will thrive & continue down the path of evolution, and which ones will simply cease to exist.====

In an ecosystem, there are giraffes who have long necks and others with short ones. If there was something that occurred which caused the low lying shrubs to die off, all the giraffes with short necks would not be receiving sufficient food. Something which after a few generations, would result in the short necked giraffes dying off, leaving only the giraffes with long necks. such is the process of Natural Selection.

=Our evolution=

====So how did the Homo Sapiens evolve to be top of the food chain? Its said that the human species likely owes our biggest key to success, to an evolutionary accident. Our big brains, derived from a common ancestor between us, and the great apes of Africa (Chimpanzees, Gorillas etc) an ape-like ancestor which inhabited the African Savannah, where our evolution began, and where most of our evolutionary changes took place, is a very hot and dry environment, which is thought to have caused them to experience a mutation which caused a growth of the skull as a way to better cool the brain, but as a result of the increased skull size, it allowed the brain to expand and get bigger.====

=More evolutionary changes and there causing pressures=


 * ====Bipedelism: Early humans climbed trees and walked on the ground. Bipedelism (walking on two feet) as an evolutionary trait allowed flexibility helping them get around in diverse habitats and cope with changing climates.====


 * Larger & More Complex Brain: Arguably the most important/key trait that allowed us to get to where we are today as a species, allowing us to understand complex concepts such as the capability to create and understand language, the ability to make, improve and use tools, art, as well as complex social relationships. And many more.


 * Body Type: While early humans spread into different environments, they would evolve different body shapes that could better help them survive in both hot and cold environments. Also things like the development of brachiating shoulders to aid in things like swimming and climbing, as well as a pivoting neck enhancing visual capabilities. A change in diet was also a way changes to the body type would be made. On top of things like the loss of body hair to better acclimate to our ancestors environment, resulting in our now "naked" bodies.

=Human Evolution From here=

====Human evolution from this point on, is divided, there are some scientists who believe that human evolution will go no further with making changes, as they believe "the fittest will no longer spearhead evolutionary change, because, thanks to medical advances, the weakest also live on and pass down their genes." Where as other scientists say they see plenty of evidence that human evolution is far from over because of things like our air travel system which covers all corners of the earth, continuing daily to spread foreign viruses and bacteria which they believe will ultimately result in an increase of importance of the genetic immune system in human survival. As a result of this they speculate a human species with stronger immune systems.====

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**Other possible/potential traits**
 * ==== Mono-ethnicity due to the constant mixing of cultures.====
 * ====**Increased Height, over the last 150 years, the average height of the species has increased by 10cm.**====
 * ===Less toes, toes which still serve a function, like the big toe which is key in the way we balance ourselves, will remain, where as because of our dwindling need to climb, the pinky toe no longer has a purpose or essential function, the result of which is a pinky toe which slowly but continuously gets smaller with every generation.===

=References=

news.nationalgeographic.com

listverse.com

www.livescience.com

www.theguardian.com

examples.yourdictionary.com

humanorigins.si.edu

listverse.com

www.quora.com