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Biology - Modern humans

Modern humans

Different selection pressures operate on modern humans (Homo sapiens)
compared with our ancestors. Trends in change of phenotype have included
the following:

* brain is becoming larger and increasing in complexity (as determined by
cranial capacity);

* face is becoming flatter and smaller with reduced brow ridges;

* jaw is becoming shorter (think of the bother of wisdom teeth!) and
teeth generally smaller;

* pelvis is broader to support muscles of lower limbs for walking; this
has an impact on birth size and weight especially as skulls of babies are
larger too;

* though density and distribution of hair follicles has not changed, the
growth of coarse hair is more localised.

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