Hominin Evolution Trends

Introduction

In the recent past, the word hominin has informed much debate regarding the human ancestors. In this text, I look at whether with regard to hominin evolution, some developments including but not kli9mited to increased brain size, advanced tool technology as well as reduced prognathism can be said to be independent or w3heathr hey are related in any way.

A discussion

According to Lewin et al. (2004), for purposes of treating human beings and their ancestors as a distinct group, proposals have been put forward to disintegrate the Hominine sub family into three, that is hominini, Gorillini as well as panini. A look at a good number of trends that have been observed in hominin evolution shows that some of the developments were largely related. For example, with regard to reduced tooth size, Lewin (2005) notes that hominids earlier on were mainly vegetarian and fed mainly on plants. This is a fact gleaned not only from their teeth but also jaw structure. However, later on, as they advanced in tool technology they mainly relied on heir molars to chew meat and their incisors to tear the same.Further, with the development of hands which were largely manipulative and could use tools as well as make them, hominins had a an increase in the brain size for purposes of alignment to some work kinds  involving specialization and integration (Lewin 2005). It is also important to note that hominins needed more brain power which could account for the shift from scent processing to the sight and sound processing as well as the auditory and other skills control.

Conclusion

It is hence clear that while some developments as far as hominin evolution is concerned were independent, some were largely interrelated and this is the reason why some trends such as a larger brain mass was in hominin was attributed to amongst other things the use of stone tools which for completion purposes demanded a brain mass which was larger.

 References

Lewin, R. & Foley, R. Principles of human evolution. Wiley-Blackwell, 2004

Lewin R. Human evolution: an illustrated introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, 2005

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