help please hominid or hominin... dot point 1.1.4 (1 Viewer)

[gizzard]

Please help me with this dot point..I seem to be reading over and over an article about this topic and not understanding a thing...

discuss the use of the terms hominin and hominid in terms of the arbitrary nature of classification systems

thanks

 

[Petinga]

Classification systems have been devised by humans to help sought out the millions of organisms found on earth.

In the past, the term hominid referred to Homo sapiens and their close ancestors only. However recent molecular evidence has shown that the african apes such as chimps and gorillas are much more closely related to Homo sapiens than the Asian Apes. This has lead to the african apes being placed with humans and their close ancestors in the hominid family. Thus showing the change in classfication system. However this has lead ot a further division, hominin, with humans and their close ancestors being separated from the african apes.

Thus this shows the arbitrary nature of classification systems were classification of organisms changes when new evidence becomes availalbe.