Animals are cool. Each is unique in its own ways and they have all evolved to become specialized in what they do. Toxic spines, color changing skin, bone crushing jaws, these are a few of those ‘cool’ attributes that I find so interesting. Unfortunately, when we think of animals one thing is left out… Us. Humans. I’m an animal, you’re an animal, we are beasts of this world like any other. Why are we so different? How are we so different from any other creature? Evolution. Through a timeline of the Human Race’s evolution and split from apes, it becomes clear how ‘cool’ we really are. Enjoy these 15 evolutionary traits that made us who we are today.


[photo: Bryan Wright via Flickr]

15. Primates (Humans, monkeys, etc.) began living in groups and socializing.

14. Our ancestor (the same as gorilla’s and chimpanzees) began developing genes that widened our artery leading to the brain, increasing blood flow to the brain.

13. Genes began changing in humans which altered appearance slowly and also altered growth of the cerebral cortex

12. Genes began mutating to increase transport in and out of cells. This took glucose out of muscles and into the brain allowing it to grow bigger.

11. A rapid evolution took place in our DNA after the separation from our ancestors increasing dexterity.

10. Human jaw muscles began shrinking to make room for the brain to grow larger.

9. With the new dexterity, humans used tools to kill animals and eat meat which resulted in more calories.

8. Humans became bald. The reason is unknown but for a large amount of history, all humans were black because of the sun exposure.

7. Brain cells began growing more spines which allowed more connections between each other.

6. The Homo genus was created which is the start of the human family tree. This genus is home to species with larger brains than its ancestors.

5. Birth became a harder task. This mean babies were born smaller and much more helpless.

4. People became fire breathing dragons!!!! Not really, but we learned to control fire.

3. We began speaking! This is a trait that apes don’t have because of air sacks they have near their vocal chords.

2. Genes mutated and made learning and pronouncing language even easier.

1. An enzyme in our saliva which digests starch becomes more prevalent as agriculture begins. The shift from


[photo: T. Michael Keesey via Flickr]

I hope you enjoyed learning about your family tree!

[via: BBC]

[cover photo: sawdust_media via Flickr]


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