EDF1005 Reflection 4 Lucy and the African Eve

Samantha Clarke
EDF1005 Reflection 4

Lucy and the African Eve

Over the years there have been many controversies about the origin the human speeches. Many individuals have come up with creative ways to try and explain human origins either through scientific or faith base. However, many question and curiosities have left major gaps which even today left some people in doubt. Evolution or creation, what do you say? This reflection will give an overview of what I have learned through reading.

According to the readings, I have learned that Technology Advancement have allowed for dramatic studies and findings about the Hominid species. Based on these finding, scientist are able to classify these species into different groups. The most major ones are the Ape group, which includes the Australopithecus (Ramidus, Afarensis, Africanus and Robustus) and the ones we are most concerned with the Human Homo (Habilis, Erectus’ and Sapiens). As new finding and more sophisticated technoloies evolve scientist are able to explain these early fossil remains.

It is rather interesting how scientist have tract early humans; one significant finding that I have learned about is the findings of Lucy. The Australopithecus Afarensis was the earliest Hominid species know, until 1995. They live about 4 to 3 million years ago. About 300 hundred fragments were found which include the complete structure of Lucy. .Afarensis is classified as an Ape, but closely related to human beings in terms of body structure. It is said that Lucy resembled a chimpanzee. They lived in the forest and their teeth structure indicate an omnivorous diet.

It is evident that these various species went under a series of transformation, from the early ape ancestries to the present human beings. It is believed that human came from Africa and that the early species spread to different parts of the world and peopled it. Even today Nuclear DNA are still showing significant finding as to the origins of human and their link to early species. They have linked HIV to be originated in Africa and argue that the chromosome 12 existed in African humans more than other non-African humans.

I have always heard about evolution but have never taken the time to study it. Based on these reading I have not change my views on human origin but it has opened my eyes to looking at evolution in another light.