What is the place of man in the system of the organic world? This question, it would seem, has long been answered, which is increasingly being challenged and revised.

The place of man in the system of the organic world

Briefly, we can say that the place of man is strictly defined in the classification of the organic world. He is the representative of the animal kingdom. The table shows its key ranks in the hierarchy of the biological world:

There are several groups of evidence that man is an animal and that he descended from them.

Human animal origins

This is supported by:

Comparative anatomical evidence: a similar structure of cells, the location of organs, rudiments and atavisms in humans.

Embryological evidence: Inside the womb, at the initial stage of development, the infant is similar to the young of some animals. This is called Baire's law, and, in short, he postulates: the younger the embryo, the fewer species characteristics it has.

Physiological similarity (respiration, nutrition, etc.) between humans and animals.

A similar chromosomal apparatus.

There are physiological features of the human species, which testify that the place of man in the system of the organic world among animals:

Bracing upright, arching of the foot, developed muscles of the lower extremities.

The structure of the spine with 4 bends.

Movable hands.

The volume of the brain and, accordingly, the high organization of behavior.

Binocular vision.

Fertility is limited: one female normally bears one fetus.

All these species and physiological features have brought man to a new stage of evolution.

Anthropogenesis and the formation of humanity

Anthropogenesis (part of the evolution that led to the emergence of man) began with the hominids. Human society received the right to be so called and ceased to be a herd about 50 thousand years ago, when the neoanthropes (Cro-Magnons) formed a new species of Homo sapiens.

The subsequent development of people began to be determined by social, economic and religious laws. Progress began to go contrary to biological nature. To be a member of society, you cannot behave like a beast and obey instincts. The place and characteristics of man in the system of the organic world turned out to be such that the very right to be called a biological species was questioned.

What separates a person from the organic world

There are a number of highly developed organisms (for example, elephants or dolphins), what distinguishes humans from their background? High social component of people's life: their creative function, knowledge, work, consciousness, speech. All this takes the place of man in the system of the organic world beyond the usual framework available to other animals.

Fundamental differences between man and the organic world

The place of man in the system of the organic world and his biosocial nature sometimes contradict each other. A person does not behave like an animal in several cases:

1. He is characterized by abstract thinking.
2. Family planning, not uncontrolled reproduction, according to instinct.
3. Consciousness (not just a highly developed brain, like dolphins, for example, not only a big brain in every sense of the word).
4. Speech.
5. A person is a part of society. People coexist in their artificial environment.

These five points reflect the social nature of a person.

Abstract thinking

Abstract thinking is a human-only ability. Thanks to him, the place of man in the system of the modern organic world is unique. After a series of repetitions of certain actions and their consequences, many animals (especially primates) exhibit figurative thinking. They are able to remember the image, especially if they are hungry, and they need to imagine food. But the next step, abstract thinking, is not available to them. They are not capable of presenting and remembering, drawing a conclusion and highlighting a generalizing sign of something that does not exist, that cannot be touched or sniffed.

The accumulation of experience, abstract conclusions, the ability to find ways out of various situations, analyze and, based on this, make a decision and take action, reason, generalize concepts are the privilege of people.

In this article, there is no purpose to analyze in detail the concept of abstract thinking, but it is worth giving an example of what gulf separates one of the closest relatives - chimpanzee monkeys - from people. They belong to the hominid family. A typical experiment on them was carried out in the laboratory. I.P. Pavlova in Koltushi near St. Petersburg.

Chimpanzee Rafael had to extinguish the fire burning before the meal on the ledge of the shelf to feast on. He quickly learned to use a cup and water for this purpose, which was offered to him in a tank and other containers. Then on the lake, on two rafts, connected by a shaky ferry, they put food on one (as always behind the fire), and on the other a cup and a tank of water. The chimpanzee once in a while preferred to make a difficult crossing to scoop up the tank, but ignored the whole lake of water. It became clear that he could not generalize this concept. Water for him is tied to the image of the tank. For the sake of justice, it is worth adding to Raphael that when the water was removed from the tank, in the end, albeit by accident, he scooped up water from the lake and, putting out the fire, received a delicacy.

Creation

The place of man in the system of the organic world is already the entire planet. People do not live strictly within the boundaries of the place of birth, but adjust the chosen place of life to suit their needs. And this is not always the most comfortable living environment. But people are transforming it. This is the simplest creation, responsible for covering basic needs, but which arose as a result of a conscious choice to live in an unsuitable environment. People literally go against biological selection. They do not look for the easiest habitats, but they adapt very unsuitable ones.

There is creative creation. The desire to leave a mark on history, to influence the world around us, and not just to feed.

Speech

Another sign of a person's abstract thinking is speech. Even its very possibility. When a specific (and, by the way, abstract) concept is assigned to certain natural phenomena - a word and its semantic meaning. It is not directly related to how and what the senses perceive in a specific period of time here and now. The image that each person forms about objects, of course, carries information-memories about weight, temperature and other associations. But with the help of words, they also describe non-existent objects, those that cannot be touched with your hands. Scientists' favorite examples are love or mathematical terms. How do you describe the concept of seven?

Man is just a highly evolved animal

This is a problematic issue. The evidence of animal nature and human origin is considered. According to biology, the place of man in the system of the organic world. There are anthropological factors that to some extent explain how physiological characteristics as a result could affect the formation of a highly developed individual and human society. But there is a long series of social factors that put a person on a different level. Can we talk about a separate fifth kingdom of the organic world? Or continue to put forward theories on the topic: where did our family come from? Is the soul a matter separate from the body, or is it physiological processes that imitate consciousness, but remain chemistry?

To reconcile opposites, it is customary to talk about the biosocial nature of man.

The school curriculum has not yet moved away from a strict orientation towards evolution. Biology and zoology teachers do not always correctly emphasize that Darwin only put forward a theory. It is popular, but not supported by hard evidence. On the contrary, there are still many questions, blank spots and arguments against.

Although the main postulates of this theory are an obligatory part of the school curriculum, and you need to know them in order to be an educated person with a broad outlook. But what speaks against the theory of the origin of species, except that the social nature of man is clearly expressed, and thinking is unique?

Darwin's theory of the origin of species: the main arguments against

As Darwin himself and his contemporaries argued: the idea of ​​evolution was in the air at that time. The genius of the most famous naturalist, the author of The Origin of Species, is that he formulated how from the small, billions of years later, the great flows. It is not the strongest who survives, but the most adapted to the constant changes of the environment. This is a short formulation of natural selection.

Opponents of Darwinism turn to the concept of irreducible complexity. In the process of evolution, many organisms could not gradually form (due to mutations) the advantages that they possess at this stage of development and thanks to which they survived in a certain habitat, in other words, they passed natural selection.

Another main argument against the theory of evolution is the information complexity of chromosomes and, as a consequence, DNA molecules. Such an ordered and long chain could not have been obtained by chance, even in billions of billions of years. In addition, with the immense age of the Earth and the discovered fossils dating from the most different periods, a sufficient number of missing links, transitional forms of life, which the theory of evolution assumes in a large volume between all species, have not been found.

The issue of origin is closely related to the place of man in the system of the organic world and his role. Perhaps it is the social component of people's lives that is decisive. It makes humanity responsible for the entire biosphere. The role and place of man in the system of the organic world were given to him for a reason - to protect and wisely manage the planet, regardless of whether people are part of the ecosystem, or are simply similar to other biological organisms, but have a higher origin and purpose of existence.

»Animals. K. Linnaeus in his "System of Nature" placed him together with the higher and lower monkeys in one order of primates. Charles Darwin, using numerous examples in his special work "The Descent of Man and Sexual Selection", showed a close relationship between man and the higher anthropoid apes.

Homo sapiens (Homo sapiens) belongs to the Chordate type, the Vertebrate subtype, the Mammals class, the placental subclass, the primate order, the hominid family.

WITH chordal a person is related: the presence of a notochord in the early embryonic stages, a neural tube lying above the notochord, gill slits in the walls of the pharynx, a heart on the ventral side under the digestive fact.

A person's belonging to subtype of vertebrates is determined by the replacement of the chord with the spine, a developed skull and jaw apparatus, two pairs of limbs, and a brain consisting of five sections.

The presence of hair on the surface of the body, five parts of the spine, greasy, sweat and the mammary glands, diaphragm, four-chambered heart, highly developed cerebral cortex and warm-bloodedness indicate human belonging to the class of mammals.

The development of the fetus in the mother's body and its nutrition through the placenta are features characteristic of subclass placental.

The presence of the forelimbs of the grasping type (the first toe is opposed to the rest), well-developed clavicles, nails on the fingers, one pair of nipples of the mammary glands, replacement in ontogenesis of milk teeth for permanent, the birth, as a rule, of one cub allows a person to be attributed to primates.

More common signs, such as a similar structure of the cerebral and facial parts of the skull, well-developed frontal lobes of the brain, a large number of convolutions in the cerebral hemispheres, the presence of an appendix, the disappearance of the tail spine, the development of facial muscles, four main blood groups, similar Rh factors and other signs bring humans closer to great apes. Anthropoids also suffer from many infectious diseases inherent in humans (tuberculosis, typhoid fever, infantile paralysis, dysentery, AIDS, etc.). In chimpanzees, Down's disease occurs, the occurrence of which, like in humans, is associated with the presence of the third chromosome in the 21st pair in the karyotype of the animal. The closeness of man to anthropoids can be traced in other ways.

At the same time, there are fundamental differences between humans and animals, including great apes. Only man has true upright posture. Due to the vertical position, the human skeleton has four sharp bends of the spine, a supporting arched foot with a strongly developed thumb, and a flat chest.

Flexible wrist - the organ of labor - is capable of performing a wide variety of high-precision movements. The cerebral section of the skull significantly predominates over the facial one. The area of ​​the cerebral cortex and the volume of the brain are much higher than that of great apes. Consciousness and imaginative thinking are inherent in man, which is associated with such activities as construction, painting, literature, science. Finally, only humans can communicate with each other through speech. These features of the structure, life and behavior of man are the result of the evolution of his animal ancestors.

A source : ON. Lemeza L. V. Kamlyuk N. D. Lisov "A guide to biology for applicants to universities"

Has its own characteristics. They are connected with the biosocial basis of Homo sapiens.

Human: taxonomy

On the one hand, man is an object of living nature, a representative of the Animal Kingdom. On the other hand, it is a social person who lives according to the laws of society and strictly obeys them. Therefore, modern science considers the systematics of a person and the features of his origin both from a biological and a social position.

Human taxonomy: table

Representatives of taxa, to which modern man belongs, have a number of similar structural features. This is proof of their common ancestor and common evolutionary path.

Type Chordates

As you can see, the place of a person in taxonomy is clearly defined. Heterotrophic type of nutrition, limited growth, ability to active movement determine its belonging to the Kingdom of Animals. But in terms of features, it is a representative. This systematic unit also includes the classes Bone and Cartilaginous Fishes, Reptiles, Amphibians and Birds.

How can such different organisms be of the same type? It's all about their embryonic development. In the early stages, an axial cord is laid in them - a chord. A neural tube is formed above it. And under the chord is the intestine in the form of a through tube. There are gill slits in the pharynx. In the course of development, these rudimentary structures in humans undergo a series of metamorphoses.

The spine develops from the notochord, and the spinal cord and brain from the neural tube. The intestine acquires an end-to-end structure. The gill slits in the pharynx become overgrown, as a result of which the person switches to pulmonary respiration.

Class Mammals

A typical representative of the class Mammals is man. Systematics assigns it to this taxon not by chance, but by a number of characteristic features. Like all mammals, humans feed their young with milk. This valuable nutrient is produced in specialized glands.

The systematics of Homo sapiens classifies him as a group of placental mammals. During intrauterine development, this organ connects the body of the mother and the unborn child. In the placenta, their blood vessels are intertwined, a temporary connection is established between them. The result of this work is the implementation of transport and protective functions.

The similarity between humans and other mammals also lies in the structural features of organ systems and the course of physiological processes. These include enzymatic digestion. Biologically active substances are secreted by the liver, salivary and pancreas. A common feature is the presence of differentiated teeth: incisors, canines, large and small molars.

The presence of a four-chambered heart and two circles of blood circulation determines the warm-bloodedness of a person. This means that his body temperature does not depend on this indicator in the environment.

Kind Homo sapiens

The most common hypothesis is that humans and some species of modern monkeys have the same ancestor. There is a number of proofs for this. The Hominid family is characterized by an important feature - upright posture. This trait was certainly associated with a change in lifestyle, which led to the release of the forelimbs and the development of the hand as an organ of labor.

The process of the formation of the modern species took place in several stages: the most ancient, ancient and first modern people. These phases did not replace each other, but for a certain period they coexisted and competed with each other.

The most ancient, or ape-men, were able to independently make tools from stones, make fire, and lived as a primordial herd. The ancients, or Neanderthals, communicated with gestures and rudimentary articulate speech. Their tools were also made of bone. Modern people, or Cro-Magnons, built their own homes or lived in caves. They sewed clothes from skins, knew pottery, tamed animals, and grew plants.

A person, whose taxonomy is determined by the totality of anatomy, physiology and behavioral reactions, is the result of long evolutionary processes.

And with it the position of man in the system of the animal world, it is not necessary to plunge into the past, because evolution is a process that takes place always and everywhere around us. For example, bacteria that were easily destroyed by penicillin in the past have taken on a new, antibiotic-resistant form.

Natural selection

Nature ordered the following: the better the animal is adapted to the conditions of the area in which it lives, the greater its chances of surviving and having offspring. His children may inherit the abnormalities that made their father so successful in their local environment. Animal species change over time, better adapting to environmental conditions. New species appear, live for thousands or millions of years, and then disappear. Evolution takes time and serendipity for change to occur.

Traits that can help a species survive, such as better teeth or larger brains, can appear in newborns as random abnormalities. If new traits really help to survive, and animals can live longer, or survive in conditions in which an ordinary member of the species dies, then these traits will be passed on from generation to generation. When these abilities are really useful, animals that have them will gradually supplant those that do not.

Darwin's theory

According to Darwin's theory, any living creature does not produce an identical copy of itself in the course of its life. A child does not look like a mother, a kitten does not look like a mother cat, even wheat grains are different from each other. If you examine them under a microscope or carry out a chemical analysis, you will notice their dissimilarity. Variation is material for natural selection. If these properties are necessary for the life of a new creature, then it will live and bring offspring, if not, then merciless natural selection will remove it from the biological sphere, and it will die like hundreds and thousands of unadapted individuals. What is the position of man in the system of the animal world? The most mysterious selection of nature, as well as its crown, is, of course, man.

The position of man in the system of the animal world

Humans are classified as primates of over 100 species, including apes, gorillas, and chimpanzees. If we indicate the position of a person in the system of the animal world, primates, namely chimpanzees, have the closest family ties with humans, 98.4% of their genes coincide. It is proved that 2,6 million years ago the primates were divided into 2 branches. 1 - in Australopithecus, which later became extinct, and 2 - the position of man in the system of the animal world - in a man of skill. It is known that the first humanoid existed on Earth 3-5 million years ago.

A lot of research, measurements, excavations and, made on their basis, scientific evidence, testifies that the position of man in the system of the animal world is ranked as a species of primates. All primates have common characteristics.

1. They all have arms and legs with five fingers each.
2. There are teeth that are adapted to chew many different foods.
3. All give birth mainly to one calf, less often - several children.

Signs of a person's position in the animal system

But there are also significant differences between them.

1. Only a person is characterized by upright walking on two legs and, accordingly, a special structure of the ridge, pelvis, legs, arms, muscles and other organs.
2. The human hand is capable of many different and precise movements. The human skull is taller and more round;
3. The cerebral part of the skull dominates over the facial one, has a high forehead, weak jaws with small canines, and a well-defined chin.
4. The human brain occupies a volume of 1800 cm3, which is 3 times the size of the primate brain. A person has well-developed parts of the brain, where the most important mental and speech centers are located.

First human among primates

The very first human ancestor, Australopithecus, could already move in an upright position. Thanks to this, he could hold tools of labor and primitive weapons in his hands.

According to scientific theory, the appearance of Homo sapiens did not happen suddenly, it was the result of a long evolutionary development that took tens of millions of years. Scientists have assigned the name "homo sapiens" to a person who knows how to make elementary tools, as well as bury his fellow tribesmen. The most primitive tools of labor were chiseled stones. 500 thousand years ago, people were already processing wooden sticks, making spears from them. And only 250 thousand years ago appeared

50 thousand years ago they learned to make lamps carved from stone, in which instead of fuel there was animal fat, after another 20 thousand years the first bow and arrows appeared. From the original ancestor species to the "homo sapiens" species, developmental leaps took place over the course of 14-20 million years. Further evolution led to the emergence of Australopithecus, who knows how to use surrounding objects as tools, and even subject them to elementary processing.

Human development

When the primates split into two branches: the first subspecies in the course of evolution turned into a skillful man, and the second into the African Australopithecus, later extinct. Evolution made a leap when the “skillful man” species emerged. He possessed elementary thinking and speech, the main carriers of information, which was then passed on to the next generations. The species "upright man" appeared 100 thousand years ago. With its appearance, the amount of information increased significantly, which contributed to the creation of a new type of heritage - not genetically, but through material and spiritual experience. This one was equal to 1250 cm3, but its evolution did not stop there. At this stage of development, an accelerated progress of biological changes was noted.

Considering the position of man in the system of the animal world, it can be briefly described as follows.

The earliest people were engaged in gathering and hunting. They led a nomadic life, ate plants and animal flesh that came across them on the way. They used caves for housing, but ancient finds confirm that during this period the first dwellings were built from branches. At some point, the tribes realized that a permanent home has a number of advantages. In a safe place, you can hide food supplies for hungry periods, protect yourself from bad weather and predators. In such villages, it is more convenient to get along with each other, and it is also easier to fight off the enemy. In the course of evolution, the human brain has grown disproportionately to the body. But the most important achievement: people have become a collective active entity, the main components of which are labor, reason and speech, and this is the main difference between people and animals.

Man and animal world

The position of man in the system of the animal world has a powerful effect on this world. The man of the Paleolithic times had already hunted, exterminating the now extinct creatures. Animals, birds and fish gave people food, skins served as the first clothing, shoes and household items. Since people started eating meat, they have learned to make fire and tame animals. As hunting tools and domestication improved, the animal world grew.

Evolution in our time no longer matters for man, rather, on the contrary, he has a global impact on the environment. The position of man in the modern system of the animal world is dangerous for the biological diversity of species. It comes from human activity, and is associated with a change in the habitat of animals, global climate change, the breeding of exotic species and the spread of diseases. Regardless of skin color, shape and size, all of humanity belongs to one species - "Homo sapiens". Human behavior reflects how evolution has programmed it to act, such as looking for steam, filling your stomach, or running away from danger.

Evolution or outside intervention?

Everything seems to be simple and clear in the evolutionary theory of human origin. But nevertheless, scientists have not yet come to a single and undeniable statement of what exactly was the impetus for the transition from primates to Homo sapiens.

According to various theories, there could be external interference, such as the interbreeding of representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations with the ancestors of humans or the control of evolution by the forces of extraterrestrial superintelligence.

Thanks to intelligence, man has made a huge breakthrough: he can take care of himself, make a choice, or take risks. He knows how to write, compose music, paint with paints. And also build planes and ships to explore the entire planet, as well as spaceships to explore space.

Biology. General biology. Grade 11. Basic level Sivoglazov Vladislav Ivanovich

18. The position of man in the system of the animal world

Remember!

What are the common signs of representatives of the Chordate type; class Mammals.

The data of comparative embryology and anatomy of humans and other animals make it possible to clearly determine that, according to the criteria of zoological systematics, the species Homo sapiens (Homo sapiens) belongs to the Kingdom of Animals, the sub-kingdom of Multicellular, type Chordates, subtype Vertebrates, class Mammals, order of Primates, family of Hominids (Fig. 58).

Rice. 58. The systematic position of man in the order of primates

Let us consider those properties and characteristics on the basis of which we occupy this position in the system of the organic world.

Comparative Anatomy Data. It is unlikely that anyone will dispute our belonging to a certain kingdom and sub-kingdom. We are bilaterally symmetrical multicellular animals and in these characteristics are similar to all worms, arthropods and chordates.

For a person, as for all representatives type Chordates, common features of the organization are characteristic that are not found in other types.

The human embryo has an internal axial skeleton that is not segmented into segments - the chord. Our nervous and digestive systems are laid in the form of two tubes lying on different sides of the notochord: the neural tube is above the notochord, and the digestive tube is below the notochord. At the early embryonic stage of development, the anterior part of the human digestive system - the pharynx - is pierced with gill slits, which later disappear, and one of them gives rise to the auditory canal and the Eustachian tube. The human circulatory system is closed, and the heart is on the abdominal side of the body.

The chordate type is divided into three subtypes, and the vertebrate subtype, in turn, unites six classes. We list the signs that make us related to other representatives class Mammals: bony spine replacing the notochord; seven cervical vertebrae; two pairs of lever-type limbs; the presence of bone marrow (bones are hollow in birds); hairline; sweat and sebaceous glands of the skin; mammary gland; well developed lips and muscular cheeks; diaphragm; three auditory ossicles of the middle ear (in birds and reptiles - one); Auricle; four-chambered heart, two circles of blood circulation and one left aortic arch; non-nuclear erythrocytes (in all other classes of vertebrates - nuclear); alveolar lungs. In addition to these morphological features, it should be noted that all mammals, including humans, are characterized by such progressive organizational features as high development of the central nervous system, especially the cerebral cortex; diverse adaptive reactions and complex behavior; intensive metabolism and perfect thermoregulation. Intrauterine development and nutrition of the embryo through the placenta characterizes us as representatives subclass Placental. It should be noted that all the listed morphological characters common to humans and other mammals are homologous, that is, they have the same origin.

Common features of a person and other representatives detachment Primates are the following: a grasping limb (the first finger of the hand is opposed to the rest); the presence of a clavicle, which ensures high mobility of the hand; dilated terminal phalanges of the fingers with nails; teeth of three types - incisors, canines, molars; high development of the cerebral hemispheres; reproduction throughout the year; the presence of one pair of mammary glands; the birth of usually one cub and long-term care for him; complex organization of relations between individuals and a high level of development of higher nervous activity.

The kinship of man with animals is also evidenced by numerous rudiments and atavisms, which are known for almost all organ systems. Rudiments- these are underdeveloped organs that have practically lost their functions in the process of evolution. Their presence indicates a relationship between humans and lower-organized vertebrates. Examples of such rudiments are the muscles of the auricle, tail vertebrae (coccyx), remnants of the blinking membrane of the eye, and the appendix of the cecum. Atavisms- these are traits that once existed in our ancestors, were later lost, but the genes responsible for their development are still preserved and, under certain conditions, cause the formation of these ancient traits. Vivid examples of atavisms are facial hair, outer tail, extra pairs of mammary glands, membranes between the fingers (Fig. 59).

Comparative embryology data. In addition to the data of comparative anatomy, the results of a comparative study of the ontogenesis of humans and animals are significant evidence of the origin of humans from animals.

The individual development of man, like other sexually reproducing animals, begins with the formation of a zygote. At two weeks of age, the human embryo shows signs of fish-like ancestors: a two-chambered heart, gill slits, and a caudal artery. Later, in the structure of the embryo, you can observe features inherited from amphibians: the blinking membrane in the inner corner of the eye, swimming membranes between the fingers. A six-week-old embryo has several pairs of mammary glands, the tail section of the spine is laid, which is then reduced and turns into a tailbone. The smooth surface of the cerebral hemispheres and the solid hair coat in the human fetus indicate a relationship with primitive mammals. Thus, the main features of human embryonic development clearly determine his animal origin.

Rice. 59. Atavisms of man

Similarities and differences between humans and great apes. With great apes, people have many features in common, such as a large body size, the absence of a tail and cheek pouches, a good development of facial muscles and a similar structure of the skull (Fig. 60). Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans have a well-developed brain, especially its frontal lobes, a large number of convolutions in the cerebral cortex. In addition to morphological signs, other data also testify to our close relationship: we are similar in Rh factor and blood groups (AB0), we suffer from the same "human" diseases. Pregnancy for both gorillas and humans is about 280 days.

Rice. 60. Great apes

The evolutionary relationship of organisms can be determined by comparing their chromosomes. The greater the similarity between DNA nucleotide sequences, the closer the relationship between species. Humans and chimpanzees share over 95% of the genes that are similar.

Great apes, like humans, have a high level of development of higher nervous activity, they are easy to learn, they have an excellent memory and a rich emotional life.

At the same time, there are fundamental differences between humans and great apes. Only a person is characterized by a true upright posture (Fig. 61). Thanks to this, a person has long and powerful legs, an arched foot, a wide pelvis, an S-shaped spine. Flexible wrist and movable fingers provide precise and varied movement.

A person has a complex brain, the average volume of which is 1350 cm 3 (for a gorilla, 400 cm 3). Thanks to the development of the structures of the larynx, a person is capable of articulate speech.

Man is a biosocial being, occupying a high level of evolutionary development, possessing consciousness, speech, abstract thinking and capable of social work.

Rice. 61. Skeletons of monkeys and humans

Review questions and assignments

1. Describe the systematic position of man in the animal kingdom.

2. Indicate the characteristics of a person as a representative of the mammalian class.

3. What features are common to humans and apes?

4. List the structural features inherent only to humans.

5. What was the significance of the increase in brain volume in anthropogenesis?

Think! Execute!

1. In the early period of development, the heart of a human embryo consists of one atrium and one ventricle. Please comment on this fact.

2. Remember from the course of zoology and name the main features of the subtype Vertebrates. What other two subtypes are distinguished in the chordate type? Who are their representatives? What are the features of their structure?

3. Some species of mammals actively protect and aggressively defend their territory and the territory of their flock; this is not typical for other species. What group does a person belong to and how has this influenced (and is affecting) the development of human society?

4. By creating tools and improving various skills, a person expands the capabilities of his body. Discuss from this perspective what role fire and clothing, lever and wheel, drawings and writing have played in human development.

5. Distribute the characteristic features peculiar only to a person into three groups: signs associated with upright posture, with work and with a social lifestyle.

6. Complete the Practical Activity Observing Physiological Rudiments. Observe the person walking. If his hands are free, then when walking, they will move in the same rhythm as his legs, making swinging movements along the body. For most people, a step with the left foot is accompanied by a forward movement of the right arm and vice versa. Try to walk with your arms pressed tightly to your torso. How do you feel? How comfortable are you walking? Complicate the task: try to simultaneously step with your left foot, throwing your left hand forward. Are you comfortable walking? In this simple assignment, you became familiar with the so-called friendly movements. In most cases, friendly movements are rudiments of once expedient joint and coordinated movements. For example, the movements of the hands while walking have been preserved in humans since the times when our distant ancestors moved on four limbs.

Work with computer

Refer to the electronic attachment. Study the material and complete the assignments.

Find out more

Chromosomes of humans and apes. All members of the hominid family have 24 pairs of chromosomes. The exception is people who have only 23 pairs of chromosomes. The study of the nucleotide sequence of chromosomes, their structural features, the location of constrictions, etc. made it possible to conclude that the human 2nd chromosome is the result of the fusion of two ancestral chromosomes.

The closest human relative, the bonobo chimpanzee, has almost identical DNA sequences found on the 2nd chromosome of humans, but they are located on two separate chromosomes. The same was found in the chromosome set of more distant relatives: the gorilla and the orangutan. There is another powerful argument in favor of this point of view. Usually the chromosome has only one centromere, but the remnants of the second centromere are observed on the long arm of the 2nd chromosome.

Thus, the structural features of the 2nd chromosome are convincing evidence of the evolutionary origin of humans and other apes from a common ancestor.