Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

The Fossil Record

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...

What is Evolutionary History?

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among these organisms. Scientists infer organisms’ common ancestry by evaluating shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Together, the fossil...

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...

Convergent Evolution

Convergent Evolution

Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.The structures that arise from convergent evolution are called analogous structures. They are similar in function even if they are dissimilar in structure. Further, structures can be analogous while also...

Eukaryotic Evolution

Eukaryotic Evolution

The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

Criticisms of the Evolutionary Perspective

In a study where individuals posing as strangers offered compliments and proposed casual sex to students, the responses differed significantly based on gender. Not a single woman accepted the proposal, while 70% of the men agreed. This outcome provides a useful scenario to explore through the lens of evolutionary psychology and social learning theory, highlighting the diverse perspectives on human sexual behaviors.
Evolutionary psychology provides one explanation for these findings, suggesting...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Expanding Homo erectus.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026

Same author

Ralph Holloway (1935-2025): Pioneering paleoneurologist.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

Formation and composition of Earth's Hadean protocrust.

Nature·2025

Same author

Birth of Paranthropus.

Evolutionary anthropology·2025

Same author

Comparative Context of Hard-Tissue Sexual Dimorphism in Early Hominins: Implications for Alpha Taxonomy.

Evolutionary anthropology·2025

Same author

Hominin fossil inventory: Quantification and comparison of discrete regional and element representation among early African fossil hominins prior to the emergence of Homo erectus.

Journal of human evolution·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Colloquium paper: reconstructing human evolution: achievements, challenges, and opportunities.

¹George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. bernardawood@gmail.com

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|May 7, 2010

Summary

This review examines the fossil evidence and branching patterns in higher primate evolution. It addresses challenges in human fossil taxonomy, species identification, and phylogenetic analysis.

More Related Videos

Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography

Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography

Published on: November 14, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography

Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography

Published on: November 14, 2025

Area of Science:

Paleoanthropology
Primate evolutionary biology
Systematics

Background:

The evolutionary history of higher primates, including humans, is complex.
Interpreting the human fossil record presents significant taxonomic and systematic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

To review evidence clarifying the branching structure of higher primates.
To discuss challenges in human fossil record interpretation, including taxonomy and systematics.
To explore methods for recognizing homoplasy in phylogenetic reconstruction.

Main Methods:

Review of existing fossil evidence for human evolution.
Analysis of taxonomic and systematic problems in primate phylogeny.
Discussion of criteria for distinguishing early human taxa and determining species numbers.
Examination of homoplasy detection in phylogenetic analysis.

Main Results:

Evidence has resolved the branching structure of higher primates.
Significant fossil evidence illuminates human evolution.
Key challenges in human fossil taxonomy and systematics are identified.

Conclusions:

Accurate interpretation of the human fossil record requires careful consideration of taxonomic and systematic issues.
Recognizing and accounting for homoplasy is crucial for robust phylogenetic analysis in human evolution.