Question

For each of the following statements, indicate if this is likely a justification used for either the Multiregional Hypothesis or Out of Africa Hypothesis:

a. Humans from different parts of the world display quite different physical features.
b. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of modern humans suggests a more recent common ancestor of all humans.
c. Some modern humans around the world have ~1-4% of their genome derived from Neanderthals, indicating the species interbred.
d. Homo erectus fossils over 1 million years old have been found around the world including in Indonesia and China.

Multiple-choice response:
a. 1 - Multiregional Hypothesis, 2 - Out of Africa Hypothesis
b. 2 - Out of Africa Hypothesis, 1 - Multiregional Hypothesis
c. 1 - Multiregional Hypothesis, 2 - Out of Africa Hypothesis
d. 1 - Multiregional Hypothesis, 2 - Out of Africa Hypothesis

Answer 1

The physical diversity of humans and evidence of gene flow with Neanderthals likely support the Multiregional Hypothesis, while mitochondrial DNA points to a recent common African ancestor, supporting the Out of Africa Hypothesis. The response to each statement aligns with the hypothesis it supports: a. Multiregional, b. Out of Africa, c. Multiregional, d. Multiregional.

Step-by-step explanation:

When comparing the Multiregional Hypothesis with the Out of Africa Hypothesis regarding human evolution, one must consider fossil evidence, physical characteristics, and genetic data:

• Statement a: Humans from different parts of the world display quite different physical features. This is likely a justification used for the Multiregional Hypothesis (1), as it suggests that human species evolved in several regions around the world, leading to a diversity of traits.
• Statement b: Mitochondrial DNA analysis of modern humans suggests a more recent common ancestor of all humans, supporting the Out of Africa Hypothesis (2), which proposes that all modern humans have a common origin in Africa.
• Statement c: Some modern humans have a small percentage of their genome derived from Neanderthals. This could support the Multiregional Hypothesis (1), reflecting gene flow between different human species across regions.
• Statement d: Homo erectus fossils over 1 million years old found in various regions, including Indonesia and China, could be used to justify the Multiregional Hypothesis (1), suggesting parallel evolution of humans across different regions.

Considering these statements, the responses are: a. 1 - Multiregional Hypothesis, b. 2 - Out of Africa Hypothesis, c. 1 - Multiregional Hypothesis, and d. 1 - Multiregional Hypothesis.