Human evolution

Human evolution

Otherwise known as anthropogeny; anything of or relating to the study of the origin and evolution of Homo sapiens as a distinct species from other hominids, great apes and placental mammals.

Industry: Archaeology

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Human evolution

Frankfurt plane

Archaeology; Human evolution

A widely agreed upon plane for orienting crania to allow valid comparisons, and to approximate theposition of the head during life. In this plane a line between the top of the external auditory ...

DNA polymerase I

Archaeology; Human evolution

An E. coli enzyme that catalyses DNA synthesis, originally called the Kornberg enzyme.

RNA polymerase II

Archaeology; Human evolution

An enzyme in eukaryotes found only in the nucleoplasm of the nucleus. It catalyses the transcription of mRNA-coding genes.

RNA polymerase III

Archaeology; Human evolution

An enzyme in eukaryotes found only in the nucleoplasm. It catalyses the transcription of the rRNA and 5S rRNA genes.

Dietary hypothesis

Archaeology; Human evolution

A theory developed by J.T. Robinson to explain the South African australopithecine variations. The hypothesis relates the differences in the gracile and robust South African australopithecines to ...

Southern blot technique

Archaeology; Human evolution

A technique invented by E.M. Southern and used in analysing genes and gene transcripts, in which DNA fragments are transferred from a gel to a nitrocellulose filter.

A technique used in identifying minerals present in artefact raw materials; it can also be used in goemorphological contexts to identify particular clay minerals in sediments, and thus the specific ...