Question

These are two opposing views about the origin of modern man. According to one view, Homo erectus in Asia were the ancestors of modern man. A study of variation of DNA, however, suggested African origin of modern man. What kind of observation on DNA variation could suggest this?

• A. Greater variation in Asia than in Africa
• B. Greater variation in Africa than in Asia
• C. Similar variation in Africa and Asia
• D. Variation only in Asia and no variation in Africa

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Genetic studies and fossil evidence show that archaic Homo sapiens evolved to anatomically modern humans solely in Africa, between 200,000 and 60,000 years ago, that members of one branch of Homo sapiens left Africa by between 125,000 and 60,000 years ago, and that over time these humans replaced earlier human populations such as Neanderthals and Homo erectus. The date of the earliest successful "out of Africa" migration has generally been placed at 60,000 years ago as suggested by genetics, although migration out of the continent may have taken place as early as 125,000 years ago according to Arabian archaeology finds of tools in the region. In contrast, the “Out of Africa Model “asserts that modern humans evolved relatively recently in Africa, migrated into Eurasia and replaced all populations which had descended from Homo erectus.