{"id":17597,"date":"2020-11-08T09:45:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-08T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=17597"},"modified":"2020-11-23T12:33:44","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T16:33:44","slug":"human-family-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"The Human Family Tree: Are You Related to a Sponge?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What other animals are on the human family tree? How do DNA and our common ancestors show what species we&#8217;re connected to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The human family tree is extensive. Despite the unique ways in which humans developed, we&#8217;re similar to other animals\u2014 including our close family members like chimpanzees, but also animals like sea sponges and sharks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about the human family tree and how we&#8217;re connected to all life on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Human Family Tree<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With our capabilities in DNA and fossil research, we can see more clearly than ever how our bodies fit into the story of how life developed on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The preceding chapters show there are striking similarities between us and other creatures, both living and long gone. We have connections in our development with microbes, ancient worms, sponges, fish, sharks, tiny extinct rodents, and many more creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Humans have parts that <\/strong><strong><em>resemble<\/em><\/strong><strong> parts of other creatures, we have certain parts <\/strong><strong><em>in common with<\/em><\/strong><strong> every other animal, and we have parts that are <\/strong><strong><em>unique<\/em><\/strong><strong> to us.<\/strong> This chapter shows how scientists can build a human family tree that shows the order in which these features develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tracing the human tree through its many branches even explains some of the quirks in our development, such as hiccups and sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Signature Traits<\/strong> on The Human Family Tree<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most basic law of biology is that every living creature had parents (or in the case of cloning, genetic information from parents). We\u2019re modified descendants of our parents. In other words, all organisms are modified versions of their parents\u2019 DNA and this is clear in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/history-of-human-evolution\/\">human evolution<\/a> family tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This pattern of \u201cdescent with modifications\u201d means we can trace family lineage by blood samples or by a signature\u2014a distinct biological feature in a family. Understanding descent with modifications, it\u2019s theoretically possible to create a human family tree showing how closely related people are in any given group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of how descent with modifications works in a family of clowns (assuming in the example that clown features are heritable):&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A first generation of clowns has a mutation giving them a red nose.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The second generation has the red nose, plus a new mutation giving them big feet.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The third generation has the red nose, big feet, and a mutation for orange curly hair.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The first and third generations share a red nose, while the second and third generations share red noses and big feet.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Actual human traits can be traced the same way, although it\u2019s more complicated because humans and animals typically change more than one trait with each generation. It\u2019s even possible to trace a lineage of shared traits through humans, animals, and back to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/precambrian-life\/\">earliest life forms<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Revisiting the Zoo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A trip to the zoo helps show how scientists trace relationships among humans and other creatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it can\u2019t zero in on one specific ancestor, a human family tree  looks something like this (incorporating modifications made with each generation):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Multicellular animals:<\/strong> animals with bodies composed of many cells; this group encompasses all animals.<\/li><li><strong>Bilateria:<\/strong> multicellular animals with a body plan like ours, plus a front\/back, top\/bottom, and left\/right symmetry; this includes every animal from insects to humans.<\/li><li><strong>Vertebrates:<\/strong> animals with a body plan like ours, plus a skull and backbone.<\/li><li><strong>Vertebrate tetrapods:<\/strong> animals with a body plan like ours, a skull and backbone, plus four limbs.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Mammals:<\/strong> animals with a body plan like ours, a skull, backbone, and four limbs, plus a three-boned middle ear.&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>Humans:<\/strong> animals with a body plan like ours, a skull, backbone, four limbs, and a three-boned middle ear\u2014who walk on two legs and have a large brain.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Fossil data also show the order: the first multicellular fossil at 600 million years old is older than the first fossil with a three-boned middle ear (200 million years old). The three-boned middle ear fossil is in turn older than the first fossil that walked on two legs (4 million years old).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The human body is something like a time capsule, containing features from ancient animals that mark key moments in the history of life, visible on the human evolution family tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>History Comes Back to Bite Us<\/strong> on The Human Family Tree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the human family tree makes us sick. <strong>Many ills and ailments we suffer can be traced to the way humans adapted and modified features or body systems of our animal ancestors that were designed for other purposes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s like trying to jury-rig an old Volkswagen Beetle to go 110 mph\u2014whatever modifications you make will have limitations because it was originally designed for gas mileage, not speed. Similarly, when you start with the body of a fish and turn it into a human mammal that walks on two legs, you get knee problems because limbs in fish were not originally developed to support walking upright on two legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another example is the convoluted paths of our arteries, veins, and nerves, which create problems that come back to bite us. Our blood flow problems are further exacerbated by living a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-sedentary-lifestyle\/\">sedentary lifestyle<\/a> in a body designed for a short, active life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This disconnect with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/history-of-the-ancient-world\/\">ancient history<\/a> means we malfunction in foreseeable ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our Hunter-Gatherer History<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>We can trace most ailments of modern life to the fact that our bodies were built to be active<\/strong> predators on the hunt for food, or gatherers and agriculturalists\u2014yet today, most of us spend our days sitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four of today\u2019s top 10 causes of death\u2014heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, and stroke\u2014stem from a sedentary lifestyle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our Primate History<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Humans also make a tradeoff for our ability to talk: the problems of choking and sleep apnea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throat muscles that allow us to talk are a modification of the gill arches in fish. The muscles of the back of the throat contract and relax when we speak, so we can make a range of sounds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this flexibility means that the throat can collapse while we sleep to the point that air can\u2019t pass through\u2014a breathing problem called sleep apnea.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our Tadpole History<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our hiccup reflex can be traced to fish and tadpoles<\/strong>. This annoying reflex is triggered by the nerves that control our breathing. We can see why on the human family tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1) The nerve spasm in hiccups stems from our fish history<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our brain coordinates our breathing muscles: the brain stem activates nerves, which activate muscles in the chest, diaphragm, and throat in an orderly sequence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fish have the same nerve pattern, but their nerves and muscles for breathing are close to the brain stem. In contrast, our breathing muscles are farther from our brain stem and our nerves travel a convoluted path, leaving them vulnerable to interruptions that could cause a spasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2) The flap closure of hiccups is a result of our amphibian history<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tadpoles use the same pattern of sudden muscle contraction and flap closure that causes hiccups in humans for a beneficial purpose. It\u2019s designed to allow them to keep water out of their lungs and breathe through their gills. However, it\u2019s a pattern that doesn\u2019t serve any useful purpose in humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our Shark History<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the more exciting species on the human family tree is the shark. The human problem of developing a hernia near the groin comes from transforming a shark\u2019s body into a mammal.\u00a0The shark is one of the most important parts of the human evolution family tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In sharks, the testes holding sperm are positioned toward the front of the body in the chest. In human males, the testes are much lower, in the scrotum, to keep the sperm at optimum temperature.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The repositioning of gonads from high in the chest to low in the groin area means the sperm cord carrying sperm from the gonads to the penis travels a complex path up and over the pelvis, then back down and out through the penis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our Microbial History<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Our cells contain mitochondria, which have many important functions, including turning oxygen and sugar into energy for the cell, metabolizing toxins, and other regulatory tasks. Their functioning can be traced to microbes that existed billions of years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many things can go wrong inside mitochondria, leading to illness or death. For example, a problem with a chemical reaction that consumes oxygen may affect specific tissues such as the eyes or may affect every body system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mitochondria\u2019s bacterial past is reflected in their genetic and cellular structure. The chemical reactions they use originated in microbes. In fact, bacteria today use similar processes, which scientists study to learn about human mitochondrial diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s just one of many ways that understanding our evolution leads to insights and advances in human genetics and medicine. Besides microbes, myriad other organisms including flies, worms, and fish can teach us how our bodies work, how they fail, and what we can do to live longer, healthier lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What other animals are on the human family tree? How do DNA and our common ancestors show what species we&#8217;re connected to? The human family tree is extensive. Despite the unique ways in which humans developed, we&#8217;re similar to other animals\u2014 including our close family members like chimpanzees, but also animals like sea sponges and sharks. Read more about the human family tree and how we&#8217;re connected to all life on Earth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":17647,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,39],"tags":[149],"class_list":["post-17597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-history","tag-your-inner-fish","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Human Family Tree: Are You Related to a Sponge? - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What species are on the human family tree? Some might be familiar\u2014like chimps\u2014but we&#039;re also related to sponges, sharks, and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Human Family Tree: Are You Related to a Sponge?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What species are on the human family tree? Some might be familiar\u2014like chimps\u2014but we&#039;re also related to sponges, sharks, and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-11-08T13:45:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-11-23T16:33:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/wordpress.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/human-family-tree-inner-fish-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Carrie Cabral\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Carrie Cabral\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Carrie Cabral\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2ababb7c63a94ff5d2190f71dc417d56\"},\"headline\":\"The Human Family Tree: Are You Related to a Sponge?\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-08T13:45:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-11-23T16:33:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/\"},\"wordCount\":1520,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/human-family-tree-inner-fish-scaled.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Your Inner Fish\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Education\",\"History\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/\",\"name\":\"The Human Family Tree: Are You Related to a Sponge? - Shortform Books\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/human-family-tree\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/human-family-tree-inner-fish-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-11-08T13:45:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-11-23T16:33:44+00:00\",\"description\":\"What species are on the human family tree? 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She wrote her first short story at the age of six, about a lost dog who meets animal friends on his journey home. Surprisingly, it was never picked up by any major publishers, but did spark her passion for books. Carrie worked in book publishing for several years before getting an MFA in Creative Writing. She especially loves literary fiction, historical fiction, and social, cultural, and historical nonfiction that gets into the weeds of daily life.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/carrie\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Human Family Tree: Are You Related to a Sponge? - Shortform Books","description":"What species are on the human family tree? 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