Homo is a genus of primates, including Homo sapiens, characterized by an upright posture, large brain, high intelligence, and hairlessness. There are 14 known species, with Homo sapiens being the most successful. The genus evolved in Africa and spread throughout the continent, except for the Sahara desert, until Homo erectus crossed over into modern-day Israel and beyond. Homo sapiens arose in Africa 200,000 years ago and spread throughout Eurasia, replacing other members of the genus. Agriculture enabled population booms, and today the world population is approaching 7 billion.
Homo is a genus of primates, the only living species being Homo sapiens, or humans. The genus is characterized by an upright posture, large brain, high intelligence, and hairlessness. Some of the most famous members of the genus are Homo habilis (lived 2.5 – 1.6 million years ago), Homo erectus (2 million – 200,000 years ago), Homo heidelbergensis (600,000 – 250,000 years ago), Homo neanderthalis (130,000 – 30,000 years ago ), Homo floresiensis (95,000 to 13,000 years ago), and Homo sapiens (200,000 years ago to present). There are other less mentioned species, for a total of 14 currently known species.
The genus can be considered among the most successful land animals in the history of the planet. While members of this genus do not exceed the biomass or numbers of certain groups of bacteria or Antarctic krill, their capabilities, including self-reflection, abstract reasoning, complex culture, technology, complex language, and a seemingly limitless ability for social cooperation on a breathtaking scale they represent a solid break with all that has come before them. This has led some to believe that humans were created by a divine being, but most scientists believe that the evolution of gender can be explained in terms of incremental evolution from chimpanzee ancestors. Genetic testing confirms a very close relationship between humans and chimpanzees.
Separating from chimpanzees about 2.5 million years ago, Homo first evolved in Africa and soon spread throughout the continent except the Sahara desert. The Sahara Desert was the main barrier keeping the genus from migrating out of Africa, until about 2 million years ago, when Homo erectus crossed over from the Sinai Peninsula into modern-day Israel and beyond. Many scientists explain this through the Sahara Pump Theory, which posits that the Sahara Desert underwent periods of greening, dragging the genus from West and Central Africa all the way to modern Egypt and other continents.
The single most successful extant species, Homo sapiens, arose in Africa 200,000 years ago. After about 100,000 years it left Africa and spread throughout Eurasia, replacing other members of the genus, which it is probably responsible for their extinction. About 12,000 years ago, during an event called the Neolithic Revolution, this species discovered agriculture, enabling cities to be built and massive population booms. Today the world population is approaching 7 billion.
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