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What was the most significant trend in the evolution of modern man ($Homo\ sapiens$) from his ancestors?
A
Increasing brain capacity
B
Upright posture
C
Shortening of jaws
D
Binocular vision
Detailed Solution
The cranial capacity increased steadily through human evolution.
$Homo\ habilis$: 650–800 cc; $Homo\ erectus$: about 900 cc; Neanderthal man: about 1400 cc; modern $Homo\ sapiens$: about 1350–1450 cc.
The increase in brain size and complexity led to intelligence, tool making, language and culture, which set modern man apart from his ancestors.
Upright posture, shortening of jaws and binocular vision also evolved, but they were already present in earlier hominids or primates and are less significant.
Hence the most significant trend was increasing brain capacity.
$Homo\ habilis$: 650–800 cc; $Homo\ erectus$: about 900 cc; Neanderthal man: about 1400 cc; modern $Homo\ sapiens$: about 1350–1450 cc.
The increase in brain size and complexity led to intelligence, tool making, language and culture, which set modern man apart from his ancestors.
Upright posture, shortening of jaws and binocular vision also evolved, but they were already present in earlier hominids or primates and are less significant.
Hence the most significant trend was increasing brain capacity.