**Human Evolution and History:**
– Carl Linnaeus coined the name Homo sapiens
– Humans are apes (superfamily Hominoidea)
– Anatomically modern humans emerged around 300,000 years ago in Africa
– Homo erectus evolved 2 million years ago
– Out of Africa migration took place in at least two waves
– Urban revolution in the 4th millennium BCE with city-states
– Late Bronze Age collapse around 1200 BCE
– Early modern period saw the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the Age of Discovery
– First World War broke out in 1914, leading to significant global changes
– Cold War between USSR and US post-WWII led to global struggle
**Human Population and Distribution:**
– As of April 2024, there are estimated to be more than 8 billion humans alive
– Humans are the most common and widespread species of primate
– Humans belong to multi-layered networks of social groups
– Human population reached one billion in 1800
– Exponential growth led to 8 billion in November 2022
– Human presence in challenging environments like Antarctica and space
**Human Biology and Characteristics:**
– Genes and the environment influence human biological variation
– Humans are among the least genetically diverse primates
– Humans are sexually dimorphic with males having greater body strength
– Humans are omnivorous and can survive without food for up to eight weeks
– Human physiology closely resembles animal physiology
– Humans have unique dental formula and characteristics
**Human Genetics and Diversity:**
– Humans are diploid and eukaryotic species with 23 chromosome pairs
– Genetic similarity between two humans averages around 99.5%-99.9%
– Human DNA variation compared to other species suggests a bottleneck around 100,000 years ago
– Genetic diversity exists within and between human populations
– Genetic diversity is highest in populations native to Africa
**Human Health and Lifestyle:**
– Human health is influenced by genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors
– Global average life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 74.9 years for girls and 70.4 years for boys
– Human reproduction mostly occurs through internal fertilization via sexual intercourse
– Human diet is reflected in culture and has led to the development of food science
– Food consumption and preparation vary by time, location, and culture
