Hominin is a term used to describe early human ancestors that belong to the genus Homo, which includes modern humans (Homo sapiens) and their extinct relatives. The term encompasses species such as Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo neanderthalensis, and others who lived between 2 million and 300,000 years ago. These early human ancestors are characterized by having a larger brain size than other primates, the ability to walk upright on two legs (bipedalism), and the use of tools. The term "hominin" is often used as an umbrella term for all species within the genus Homo that are more closely related to modern humans than to chimpanzees or gorillas.