Question

question 9
the oldest hominin species that scientists have extracted dna from ________.
a homo habilis
b australopithecus afarensis
c homo neanderthalensis
d sahelanthropus
e scientists have not extracted dna from any fossil homids

question 10
the ancestral population of humans lived in ___.
a africa.
b asia.
c pangaea.
d northern europe.
e australia.

Explanation:

For Question 9:

• Homo habilis: Lived about 2.1 - 1.5 million years ago. DNA extraction from such old fossils (without proper preservation conditions like permafrost) is extremely difficult.
• Australopithecus afarensis: Lived around 3.9 - 2.9 million years ago. Similar to Homo habilis, DNA preservation over such long time spans (in non - ideal conditions) is not feasible for extraction.
• Homo neanderthalensis: Lived from about 400,000 - 40,000 years ago. Some Neanderthal fossils have been found in conditions (like cold caves) that allowed for DNA preservation, and scientists have successfully extracted Neanderthal DNA.
• Sahelanthropus: Lived around 7 million years ago. DNA preservation over this vast time period (without special preservation) is not possible for extraction.
• Scientists have extracted DNA from Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) fossils.

For Question 10:

• The "Out of Africa" hypothesis is widely supported. Genetic and fossil evidence suggests that the ancestral population of humans originated in Africa.
• Asia: While there were hominin populations in Asia (e.g., Homo erectus), the ancestral population of modern humans is traced back to Africa.
• Pangaea: This supercontinent broke up about 200 million years ago, long before the emergence of hominins.
• Northern Europe: Hominin populations migrated to northern Europe much later in human evolution.
• Australia: Human migration to Australia occurred relatively late in human pre - history, after the initial spread from Africa.

Answer:

Question 9: C. Homo neanderthalensis
Question 10: A. Africa