Question

There are two opposing views about origin of modern man. According to one view, Homo erectus in Asia was ancestor of modern man. A study of variations of DNA, however suggested African origin of modern man.
What kind of observation of DNA variations 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 Aisa.
• D. Variation only in Asia and no variation in Africa.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Greater variation in Africa than in Asia.

Evolution of human beings has its origins in Africa as per the fossil records found there. By 1920s homind fossils were discovered in Africa and in 1924, Raymond Dart described Australopithecus africanus , the Tuang child as the ancestor to modern man and a transitional form between apes and humans.However, from then on the evolution of homo species took on giving rise to Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neaderthalensis and Homo sapiens. However, there seems to be a transition between Homo erectus and Homo Sapiens in Africa. Further, studies on human genome ( y-chromosome DNA and mitochondrial DNA ) supported the African origin. Evidence from autosomal DNA also supports the recent African origin.