Introduction
Classification is the grouping of organisms in predefined taxonomic groups based on the degree of similarity or difference between them. The classification is based on observable morphological features. The basic unit of classification is the species, and it consists of organisms that resemble each other in all biological and observable characteristics, and their similarity is marked by their ability to mate and produce viable offspring. The Study of evolution has always fascinated man and this is manifested by the deep study of anthropology and history. Hominids were a central part of humans and a study on them must be conducted.
Krings, et al (21) tell us that classification utilizes two names to identify a particular species. These are the species and the genus name. The human being is classified as Homo sapiens, the Homo being the genus and the sapiens being the species. Other animals which are quite similar to humans but cannot reproduce and produce viable offspring with the human belong to the genus Homo. Most of the animals that shared this genus with human beings are morphologically extinct, and they were learned of through excavation and examination of their fossils. The last surviving relative of the human being in this genus was the Homo neanderthalensis, but according to the theory of human evolution, it became extinct some 24,000 years ago. A hominid is an organism that shares the genus Homo with the human being. According to the theory of evolution, the current species of humans, the Homo sapiens, has been in solitary existence as the only member of the genus Homo for the past 25,000 years.
The three main concepts that guided western thoughts about humanity’s place in nature, nature, and the nature of the earth itself before Darwin include the concept of the genus, the concept of catastrophism, and the concept of uniformitarianism. The concept of genus implied that human beings were indeed part and parcel of nature just like plants and other animals. From this concept, early western thoughts revolved around the explanation of nature by implying that nature was not fixed in its form because organisms changed over time (The Hobbit Debate Continues).
The catastrophism concept implied that the earth itself was shaped by catastrophes such as floods and earthquakes which brought about rapid mountain formation. The uniformitarianism concept or theory sought to explain the nature of the earth itself by implying that the earth’s surface was shaped by natural forces. An example of a pre-Darwinian explanation of the natural world is that life and the earth were created by God who formed a continuous and infinite form of life from simplest to the most intricate. Hence, the pre-Darwinian explanation of the natural world describes animals and plants as they are and not the process that resulted in their present form. Another example of a pre-Darwinian explanation of the natural world is that the earth was created between 4000 B.C to 6000 BC (Krings 34).
Darwinian explanations
However, we know that these explanations were incorrect today because the Darwinian explanations of the natural world include the argument that all things in the planet, microscopic organisms, tropical frog trees, coastal redwoods, desert cacti went through an evolution from simple organisms. In addition, the geological principles as we know them today indicate that geological processes occur at a very slow pace which is a strong indication that the natural world is indeed very old than 4000 B.C or 6000 B.C.
Hominid
The three main varieties of hominids in Africa around 2 million years ago include Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus robustus and Australopithecus boisei also called Zinjathropus boisei. It also had small teeth with large and strong lower jaws. The Australopithecus boisei existed between 2 and 1.1 million years ago. It had a large brain capacity of 530cc as compared to robust. It also had a heavily developed skull.
Decoupling of behavior
Decoupling of behavior from anatomy refers to the reframing of studies related to modern human emergence to develop or establish a debate that focuses explicitly on the origin of modernity behavior which relates to contemporary anatomy and which intersects with contemporary anatomy. It is significant to the evolution of homo because it seeks answers to different questions related to behaviors. For example, is the origin of contemporary behavior gradual or sudden, what is the meaning of modern behavior, whether the contemporary behavior is unique to contemporary humans or whether it is shared with Neandertals and many other species, whether the new cognitive abilities are the result of the origin of modern behaviors or whether it is a result of cultural, social, historic and demographic factors. Another example is that decoupling of behavior from anatomy is vital in explaining the relationship between modern human behaviors with those of other homo species. Additionally, another example is that decoupling of behavior from anatomy seeks to establish a relationship between modern humans and other human species.
Conclusion
This article has examined facets regarding concepts that guided humanity up to the point that we have evolved to what we are today. The article has studied Darwinian explanations regarding the evolution process as well as the study of Hominids.
Works Cited
“The Hobbit Debate Continues”. Full Nature Article.A1. Web.
Krings, Stone. Neanderthal DNA Sequences and the Origin of Modern Humans. London: Oxford University, 1997.
Wong, Kate. The Littlest Human. New York. The Scientific American.. pp.58-65.A34. 2005.