Evolution: A Timeline History (Part-1)

About 13.5 Billion Years Ago, Matter and Energy Appeared

About 13.5 million years ago, the universe began. The scientists believed that before the big bang, space was filled with an unstable form of energy, whose nature is not yet known.

The question arises: which comes first at the origin of the universe, energy or matter?

According to many perspectives, such as the Big Bang theory, quantum field theory, and cosmological perspective, the universe was hot and dense, filled with energy. Then, the universe cools down and expands, converting the energy into particles of matter.

Energy represents a shift within a system that requires a component.

Figure-1 The story of the Big Bang
Figure-1 The story of the Big Bang

The Initiation of Physics and Chemistry

Physics tells the tale of matter, energy, time, and space in our universe.

Matter and energy began to transform into complex structures called atoms about 300,000 years after their appearance, and these atoms then combined to form molecules. Chemistry is the story of atoms, molecules, and their interactions.

Figure-2 The Initiation of Physics and Chemistry
Figure-2 The Initiation of Physics and Chemistry

The formation of the planet Earth occurred approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

About 4.5 billion years ago, the solar system was a cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula.

Formation of the Sun:

The solar nebula collapsed and flattened into a disk. Most materials were pulled towards the center, forming the sun.

Figure-3 The Formation of Sun
Figure-3 The Formation of Sun

Earth Formation:

In the surrounding disk, dust and ice particles collapsed, forming small bodies known as planetesimals.

These planetesimals bodies scattered and changed into large bodies Called protoplanets. One of these protoplantes becomes the earth.

Earth layer structure:

The earth grows continuously and becomes as hot as its material to melt. The heavy elements, such as iron and nickel, moved towards the center and formed the core of the earth. The lighter materials formed the mantle and crust.

Figure-4 The Formation Of Earth And Layers
Figure-4 The Formation Of Earth And Layers

Formation of the moon:

On the basis of giant impact theory, it suggests that a Mars-sized body known as Theia collided with Earth and expanded to form the moon.

Development of the ocean

When lava burst, the planet’s surface cooled, and water vapors condensed to form oceans.

3.8 billion years ago: the emergence of organisms, the beginning of biology

About 3.8 billion years ago, on the Earth, certain molecules combined to form large structures called organisms. The study of living organisms is called biology.

Figure-5: The Emergence of Organisms, the Beginning of Biology
Figure-5: The Emergence of Organisms, the Beginning of Biology

6 million years ago: Last common grandmother of humans and chimpanzees

About 5 to 7 million years ago, the females in the last common ancestor species. These ancestral females gain genetic material that has been passed down from both human and chimpanzee lineages. There is no evidence that clarifies the identity of grandmothers.

The chimpanzee and human last common ancestor CHLCA is the last common ancestor shared by the extant Homo (Human) and Pan (chimpanzee and bonobo) genera of Hominine.

Figure-6: Grandmother of Humans and Chimpanzees
Figure-6: Grandmother of Humans and Chimpanzees

About 2.5 million years ago: Evolution of the genus Homo in Africa. First stone tools.

The evolution represents three early species on the basis of increased brain size and stone tool-making.

These three early species are Homo habilis, Homo rudolfensis, and Homo erectus.

Figure-7: Evolution of The Genus Homo In Africa
Figure-7: Evolution of The Genus Homo In Africa

Homo habilis

Louis and Mary Leakey at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. H. Habilis is the first known maker of stone tools. These are the earliest members of the genus Homo, with a larger brain and a more human-like dental structure compared to hominins. These are also known as “handymen.”

Homo rudolfensis

These were also lived at the time of H. habilis, which had the characteristics of a large brain and larger teeth with different ecological niches. Less is known about Homo rudolphensis. The fossil records of The rudolfensis reflect naturally within a single species rather than distinct species.

Homo erectus

The Homo erectus appears later with the advanced modification of bipedal movement and is considered the first hominin to migrate out of Africa.

The fossil records of this species show that these species provide biology and behavior, and their abilities have more potential for long-distance travel.

Figure-8 Homo erectus
Figure-8 Homo erectus

Some records believe that H. erectus emerged from a population that dispersed from Africa.

So the genus Homo in Africa represents a great record in human history. Homo erectus has more advanced traits.

Rumana Gull

Scholar Master of Philosophy Biological Sciences

Dr. Abid Hussain Nawaz

Post Doc and Ph.D in Management sciences

Noreen Akhtar

Educationist

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