Human Evolution Introduction

Today's lecture was rather interesting because it correlated with the topics of my Human Growth and Development class (AANT 319). I believe that we can relate to primates in a similiar manner as to how they "groom" or nurture one another. In ant319 we discussed primate traits and the implications of humans. Those discussed were: Large brain for body size for mammals, long lifespan, invasive placention, live in social group, excellent vision-eyes forward, first digits opposable (can grasp), fingernails (homologous with claws), clavicle. This was just interesting to me because the features that are given to us help us in our nutrition in the sense that us as humans with fingers, can grasp onto food. Lions have the strength and power to be predators to survive and so on. This related to air because in development class we also spoke about how our surroundings, including our environment can have a vast effect on our health. In some countries, such as India or china, people are more petite because of the diet they are offered, where starch is a primary part of the diet; vs the US where we are more obese due to our "fast food diets". I believe the air has much to do with this. In the air we can find pollution and depending on where we come from, and how readily the sun and clean environement is to us, will have an effect on the crops we grow, and more or less what can be grown. It concludes back to how all animals or living things for that matter adapt to our surroundings and we learn to cope with what's around us and advance with it.