The origin of the Homo genus : what are we looking for ?

The seminar " The Origin of Homo. What are we Looking for? " presented by Bernard A. Wood (Georges Washington University, Washington DC) highlighted the difficulties of establishing an accurate diagnosis of the genus Homo. Bernard Wood highlighted the fact that the earliest forms considered by many to belong to the genus Homo are in many ways primitive and close to australopithecines. In fact, it's only with Homo erectus that we come face to face with a species displaying many truly "human" characteristics.