Question 1

According to the 'Out of Africa' hypothesis, where do the earliest anatomically modern human fossils appear in the record?

Accepted Answer

Africa, approximately 200,000 years ago

Question 2

Between 195,000 and 160,000 years ago, what environmental factor most likely prevented early humans from migrating out of Africa?

Accepted Answer

Severe glacial periods creating inhospitable climates outside Africa

Question 3

What major change between 120,000 and 115,000 years ago enabled humans to migrate out of Africa?

Accepted Answer

Climatic warming that opened migration corridors

Question 4

During which period did Homo sapiens nearly go extinct, and what evidence supports this?

Accepted Answer

About 70,000 years ago; genetic bottleneck observed in mitochondrial DNA

Question 5

Modern humans are believed to have migrated into China and the Middle East at approximately what times?

Accepted Answer

China: 40,000 years ago; Middle East: 100,000 years ago

Question 6

What evidence suggests that humans migrated into the Americas, and when did this likely occur?

Accepted Answer

Stone tools dated to about 15,000 years ago

Question 7

Which of the following is a form of evidence for human encounters with other hominid species?

Accepted Answer

Presence of Neanderthal DNA in modern human genomes

Question 8

What allowed Homo sapiens to support large populations after colonizing much of the land?

Accepted Answer

Development of agriculture and food storage

Question 9

Why are archaeological sites (yellow dots) significant in supporting the human migration pattern? Choose the best answer.

Accepted Answer

They provide physical evidence of human presence and technology at specific times and locations

Question 10

According to the Earliest Human Migration video, what was the major driving factor for human migration (excluding environmental reasons)?

Accepted Answer

Search for new resources and competition with other groups

Question 11

What is the Genographic Project?

Accepted Answer

A global research initiative to map human migration using genetic markers

Question 12

How is the Genographic Project used to trace human evolution?

Accepted Answer

By analyzing DNA markers to reconstruct migration routes and ancestral relationships

Question 13

Why is there less variety of DNA markers in people from islands like Papua New Guinea compared to Mexican-Americans?

Accepted Answer

Founder effect and genetic drift due to geographic isolation

Question 14

Predict which population would have a larger variety of DNA markers: the Amish in Pennsylvania or a Spanish immigrant family in Jersey, and explain why.

Accepted Answer

Spanish immigrant family, due to greater genetic diversity from recent migration and admixture

Question 15

Based on migration data and genetic evidence, why might a modern human have approximately 1.7% Neanderthal DNA?

Accepted Answer

Interbreeding between Homo sapiens and Neanderthals after leaving Africa

Question 16

If a population experienced a genetic bottleneck, which equation would best describe the expected loss of heterozygosity per generation?

Accepted Answer

$$H_t = H_0$ \left(1 - \frac{1}{2N} \right)^t$$

Question 17

Which of the following best explains the founder effect observed in island populations?

Accepted Answer

A small group colonizes a new area, leading to reduced genetic diversity

Question 18

A student claims that all modern humans have identical DNA markers. Which evidence from the Genographic Project contradicts this claim?

Accepted Answer

Genetic markers show variation correlated with migration routes and population history

Question 19

Which equation would you use to calculate the expected genotype frequencies in a population under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

$$p^2 + 2pq$$ + $$q^2 = 1$

Question 20

Which of the following is a real-world example of gene flow affecting human populations?

Accepted Answer

Admixture between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Eurasia

Guided Study: Hominid Evolution and Human Migration (Genetics Focus)

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards