HUMAN EVOLUTION

Like other organisms human also evolved over millions of years. The early stages of human evolution are studied by the means of comparative anatomy of fossils and their evidence of the comparative biochemistry of present day human and other mammalian species. human belongs to the class Primates of mammals. The order primates has two suborders

i) Prosimii, includes tree shrews, lemurs, loris, tarsiers etc.

ii)Anthropoidea, includes monkeys,apes and humans. Humans belongs to the family Hominidae.

In 1800s several scientific papers were written on the possible origin of humans. In 1863 T.H Huxley made first attempt to explain the origin of man on scientific basis in his book "Man's Place in nature". Charles Darwin in1871 published a book "The Descent Man" in which he suggested that man was evolved from ape like ancestors and not the wrong concept that "Man is evolved from monkey". At that time this concept was strongly criticised by metaphysical and religious circle. Science that time a great number of fossils apelike creatures were found in Africa and later in Europe and Asia as well. They flourished for many millions years and they are believed to have evolved into modern apes and humans. Now adays it is believed that the ancestors of man and ancestors of great apes decendent from common ancestors and both human and apes evolved along different lines. Today apes are highly specialized forms. Human beings are highly specialised form.