Homo Sapiens Research Paper

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Modern humans, or Homo sapiens (or H. sapiens) are anatomically modern which populated the world as or shortly after they evolved. There are three theories offering an explanation for this global spread. The single origin or “Out of Africa” theory is the most commonly known theory, it explains that Homo sapiens evolved in Africa then quickly spread across the world. Next is the multiregional theory states that after Homo erectus spread around the world, they evolved into Homo sapiens. The assimilation theory explains human evolution and dispersal as being a mixture of the single origin and multiregional theories. Each theory has its merits and faults, as can be seen through archeological and genetic evidence or the lack thereof.
“Out of Africa” or the single origin theory posits that H. sapiens “spread and replace[d]” existing populations of hominins, from an evolutionary location in Africa. (Ember 141, Tryon) Through a study of variations in mitochondrial DNA, the highest variations of genes were found among populations in Africa, which “implies that Homo sapiens arose first in Africa and has …show more content…
erectus evolved into H. sapiens while defining other hominins as being transitional steps between the first and, so far, final stages in human evolution. By the study of skeletal remains from specific regions, supporters claim “continuity” from early H. erectus fossils to modern populations prove this type of evolution. (Ember 142) Some posit that distinct speciation did not occur through continued contact between populations by the mechanisms of cultural transmission and gene flow. (Tryon) Yet, sites found in European caves and in the Middle East do “not support the Multiregional Model where Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans overlapped for a long period of time.” (Johanson) Evolving from H. erectus to H. sapiens would have not allowed for the extended overlap of the various
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