181 NCEA Style Question: Patterns of Dispersal

1. Two important models for human dispersal are the out-of Africa model and the multiregional model.

Discuss which of the models for human dispersal (shown above) the data support. In your answer you should: • describe the out-of-Africa and muliregional models • explain what the data above suggests about the dispersal of the genus Homo • discuss how the data supports (or does not support) the models above You may use more paper if required.

Europe Africa Asia

African origin

Multiregional model

Europe Africa Asia

African origin

Out-of-Africa model Evidence from stone tools suggests Homo erectus reached China 1.27 million years ago. The most recent fossil finds suggest it remained there until 143,000 years ago.

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA shows there are 6 different groups within the human population. Only one of these groups, L3, is found outside of Africa. L3 is believed to have arisen about 100,000 years ago.

Analysis of DNA from the Y chromosome indicates that all living males today are related to a man that lived between 140,000 and 500,000 years ago, probably in Africa.