Question 1

Neandertal mtDNA recovered from bones found at the original Neandertal site, Krapina in Croatia, and Mezmaiskaya Cave in Russia:

Accepted Answer

The recovered Neandertal mtDNA from the bones found in Krapina and Mezmaiskaya Cave showed substantial differences when compared to modern human mtDNA.

Question 2

Comparing the reconstructed Neandertal genome with that of a modern human being, researchers have concluded that modern humans and Neandertals were genetically:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that Neandertals and modern humans share about 99.7% of their DNA, so they were quite similar genetically.

Question 3

About what percentage of the genome of modern human beings in Europe and Asia can be traced to Neandertals:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that modern humans outside of Africa have about 1%-4% of their genome traceable to Neandertals, indicating that interbreeding between the two species occurred.

Question 4

About what percentage of the genome of modern human beings in Africa can be traced to Neandertals:

Accepted Answer

Modern humans in Africa have little to no Neandertal DNA because interbreeding with Neandertals primarily occurred after humans migrated out of Africa.

Question 5

Key differences in the Neandertal genome, when compared to the modern human genome, involve:

Accepted Answer

The key difference in the Neandertal genome, when compared to the modern human genome, involves differences in cranial morphology, such as a larger braincase and a more pronounced brow ridge. There is no significant difference in muscle strength or eye color. While Neandertals did have a slightly larger cranial capacity on average, this falls under the category of cranial morphology.

Question 6

In the consensus view, anatomically modern human beings evolved in:

Accepted Answer

The consensus view among anthropologists and geneticists is that anatomically modern humans evolved in Africa around 200,000 years ago and then spread from there to other parts of the world. This is supported by genetic evidence, fossil evidence, and archaeological evidence.

Question 7

In the consensus view, anatomically modern human beings moved into Southwest Asia sometime between:

Accepted Answer

The consensus view is that anatomically modern human beings moved into Southwest Asia between 150,000 and 100,000 years ago.

Question 8

Anatomically modern human beings expanded into mainland China as much as sometime between:

Accepted Answer

Anatomically modern human beings expanded into mainland China around 150,000 to 100,000 years ago. This is supported by archaeological evidence of human fossils and artifacts found in the region dating back to this time period. The other options are incorrect as they are either too early (A, B) or too late (D).

Question 9

At least in some cases, when the geographically expanding population of anatomically modern human beings encountered local groups of premodern varieties of humans, especially the Neandertals, the premoderns:

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that modern humans interbred with Neandertals and other premodern varieties of humans, with some populations carrying up to 4% of Neandertal DNA in their genomes. Therefore, it is most likely that they mated with them and produced offspring rather than killing them off, cannibalizing them or enslaving them.

Question 10

About what percent of the reconstructed Neandertal genome is preserved across the modern human genome:

Accepted Answer

The answer of About what percent of the reconstructed Neandertal...

Question 11

If about 2% of your genome is Neandertal (which is common among Europeans) than you share as much DNA with a Neandertal as you do with your:

Accepted Answer

You share about 2% of your DNA with a Neandertal, which is roughly equivalent to the amount of DNA you would share with a great-great-great-great-grandmother. This comparison is based on the way DNA inheritance works, where you inherit about 50% of your DNA from each parent, and this percentage halves with each subsequent generation.

Question 12

Why don't the native people of Africa have any Neandertal DNA?

Accepted Answer

Neandertals are known to have lived in Europe and western Asia, but not in Africa. Therefore, the native people of Africa would not have inherited any Neandertal DNA.

Question 13

The stone tools of the first anatomically modern human beings:

Accepted Answer

The stone tools of the first anatomically modern humans were very similar to those of their premodern ancestors, indicating a gradual evolution in tool-making techniques rather than an immediate leap in sophistication.

Question 14

The Denisovans were:

Accepted Answer

The Denisovans were an extinct variety of premodern human beings closely related to Neandertals. They were discovered through DNA analysis of a bone fragment found in Siberia and are believed to have interbred with both Neandertals and early anatomically modern humans. They are not a surviving group of premodern humans like the one suggested in option D as there is no evidence of their continued existence.

Question 15

When comparing the DNA of anatomically modern human beings, the Neandertals, and the Denisovans, which groups are most similar:

Accepted Answer

Neandertals and Denisovans are most similar to each other genetically. Both groups are distinct branches of the human family tree that share a common ancestor more recently with each other than with anatomically modern humans.

Question 16

Denisovan DNA is found in its greatest concentration among modern humans in which geographical area:

Accepted Answer

Denisovan DNA is found in its greatest concentration among modern humans in Asia. Specifically, populations in Melanesia (Papua New Guinea and surrounding islands) have the highest levels of Denisovan ancestry, with up to 6% of their DNA coming from the ancient hominin. Other Asian populations such as those in China and Tibet also have significant amounts of Denisovan DNA.

Question 17

The highest percentage of Denisovan DNA in modern human populations is about:

Accepted Answer

The highest percentage of Denisovan DNA found in modern human populations, particularly among some indigenous groups in Southeast Asia and Oceania, is about 5%.

Question 18

The bone tools from the Katanda sites in Zaire are significant because they show:

Accepted Answer

The bone tools from the Katanda sites in Zaire are significant because they show a sophisticated tool making technology 90,000 years ago and associated with anatomically modern humans. The other choices are not supported by the evidence from the Katanda sites.

Question 19

The Aurignacian tools of Europe's first anatomically modern human beings:

Accepted Answer

The Aurignacian industry, which includes finely crafted stone tools and art objects, appeared rather suddenly in Europe around 40,000 years ago, coinciding with the arrival of anatomically modern humans. This industry did not evolve from the earlier Mousterian industry of the Neandertals, nor is it derived from the Katanda bone tools of Africa or the stone tools of Skhul and Qafzeh.

Question 20

The Châtelperronian industry appears to have been:

Accepted Answer

The Châtelperronian industry is considered a late industry of the Neandertals, as it dates to roughly 40,000-35,000 years ago and is found in association with Neandertal fossils. It is characterized by the production of tools made from bone and antler in addition to stone tools.

Quiz 5: The First Humans: The Evolution of Homo Sapiens