The Role of Gene Mutation in Human Evolution Essay -- Exploratory Essa

The Role of Gene Mutation in Human Evolution Have you ever looked at a gorilla or a monkey and considered it to be your ancestor? Probably not, but, if you have had that thought then it was probably just because that is what has been taught in our school systems for decades, and probably will be for a long time to come unless proven otherwise. Sure, humans and primates have similar features: facial expressions and structures; fingers; toes; breasts; hair; etc., but there has been no evidence that proves that we are, undoubtedly, a product of natural selection evolving from ape-like species. Ever since the first mentioning of our evolution from such species was introduced, it has been primarily theory, and nothing more. Scientists have been struggling for years to find the scientific evidence linking humans to primates. Recently, though, in the study of such a theory, there has been a remarkable finding suggesting just that – Humans are descendants from ape-like species. Anthropologists have long debated how humans evolved from a species with larger jaw muscles and smaller cranial capacities (smaller brains). The new finding may be the answer they’ve been searching for. Although it is not definite proof linking the two species, it is very convincing. Perhaps with more research, it can become factual proof that links humans to primates. Mysosin is the major contractile protein that makes up muscle tissue, and it is this gene that is thought to be responsible for the appearance of the genus Homo in the evolutionary aspect of the hominid species. â€Å"Myosin Heavy Chains are a critical protein component of the sarcomeres, the engine room of skeletal muscle, from which contractile force is derived† (Currie, 373). ... ...nd unpredictable, and this goes for everything in science which is why it is so intriguing to so many people. You and I are both able to read and comprehend the words on this page, along with being able to do hundreds of other tasks that no other species is able to do, thanks to a small, muscular genetic mutation that occurred in primates 2.4 million years ago, giving rise to the genus Homo, and eventually Homo sapiens. Works Cited 1. Currie, Pete, 2004, Muscling in on Hominid Evolution. Nature, v. 428, p351-450. Macmillan Building, London, UK. p373-374. 2. Stedman et al, 2004, Myosin Gene Mutation Correlates with Anatomical Changes in the Human Lineage. Nature, v. 428, p351-450. Macmillan Building, London UK. p415-418 3. University of Pennsylvania Medical Center http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/03/040325074128.htm