Evolutionary Adaptation
As we attempt to trace our adaptations and evolution from our apelike forebears, we have come to recognize that many human traits, including organs and behaviors, have lost most of their original function as a result of evolution. These include organs such as the appendix, wisdom teeth, and tailbone, as well as behavioral reflexes like the formation of goosebumps under the skin. Although the exact reason for the raised bumps on our skin is not entirely clear, research and scientists have proposed that a possible function would have been to elevate the body’s hair, making our ancestors appear larger and thus deterring predators. Raising the hair may have also been used to capture an additional layer of air, keeping the animal warm. We used to have thick hair that stood on our heads, not so unlike the hair on the back of your neck now. However, we lost that thick hair over time, yet the physiological response remained.
Evolutionary Adaptation
Early Language
Some scientists contend that communication traits and the use of language stemmed from a shared dialect spoken by our forebears while they still lived in Africa. This language may have been composed of sounds and grunts rather than formal words, but it was undoubtedly employed as a means of instruction and expression. Given that there are over 5000 different languages spoken in the world today, this notion is highly plausible. Linguists and anthropologists propose that human language most likely began to evolve around 100,000 years ago.
Early Language