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Article: Human ancestors make evolutionary changes. (Homo erectus)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- May 4, 1985
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1985 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Human Ancestors Make Evolutionary Change
Some scientists believe that Homo erectus, the species directly ancestral to modern humans, is a model of evolutionary stability and a prime example of the theory of "punctuated equilibrium,' which holds that individual species have a clear beginning and end (SN: 7/25/81, p. 52). This view was fostered by a recent study indicating that for nearly 1.5 million years these precursors of Homo sapiens remained largely the same, rapidly changing in form and developing larger brains only when a new species was about to appear.
Several lower forms of life are undoubtedly marked by long periods of relatively little change ...