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Question 1

Biological anthropology

Answer 1

the study of the biological origins, evolution, and contemporary diversity of humans and their primate relatives; emphasizes process, adaptation, and variation; embraces a biocultural perspective, especially in the study of modern human diversity

Question 2

Variation

Answer 2

observable differences within a class of objects, the source of which may be genetic or environmental or both

Question 3

Forensic anthropology

Answer 3

the application of anthropological knowledge to solving offenses committed against people, including homicide and war crimes

Question 4

Multidisciplinary research

Answer 4

and investigative approach that brings the expertise of a number of disciplines to bear on a particular question within an existing field of study;

describes the situation where researchers from different fields of study combine their efforts to address a particular question or research theme using the methods and bodies of theory from their own discipline

Question 5

Interdisciplinary

Answer 5

an investigative approach that brings diverse fields together to create a new arena of study;

develops when new insights emerge from the integration of concepts from other fields into a novel perspective or understanding, often creating new fields of inquiry (e.g., feminist studies).

Question 6

Holism

Answer 6

the integrated study of all aspects of human life, biological, cultural, historical, psychological, etc., in order to develop a comprehensive view of the whole of the human condition; concerned with all aspects of humans

Question 7

Biocultural perspective

Answer 7

a research perspective that recognizes the interrelationship of biology and the many facets of culture, including technology and social behaviour

Question 8

Basic research

Answer 8

experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view.

Question 9

Applied research

Answer 9

a subfield emphasizing project-based, problem-oriented, practical applications of knowledge

Question 10

Community-based research

Answer 10

an approach in which investigators work directly with a community to develop, organize, and implement a research program

Question 11

Evolutionary processes

Answer 11

a process that results in changes in the genetic material of a population over time. Evolution reflects the adaptations of organisms to their changing environments and can result in altered genes, novel traits, and new species.

Question 12

Developmental processes

Answer 12

A biological process whose specific outcome is the progression of an integrated living unit: an anatomical structure (which may be a subcellular structure, cell, tissue, or organ), or organism over time from an initial condition to a later condition.

Question 13

Osteology

Answer 13

Osteology: the descriptive and comparative study of bones and teeth

Question 14

Isotope

Answer 14

a measurable form of chemical element varying in the number of neutrons within its nucleus (e.g. 12C and 14C are different isotopes of carbon; an atom of the former has 6 protons and 9 neutrons and the latter has 2 extra neutrons

Question 15

Stable isotope analysis

Answer 15

a method that analyzes the chemical composition of body tissues that are preserved in the archaeological record, such as bones, teeth, and hair. This method is now commonly used in bioarchaeological research to investigate questions relating to past diet and geographic origins.

Question 16

Paleopathology

Answer 16

the study of ancient disease and trauma; a branch of osteology
Disease and trauma; body stress; injuries
How did populations cope with disease and malnutrition?

Question 17

Homonim

Answer 17

a term inclusive of modern humans and their bipedal ancestors

Question 18

Taxon

Answer 18

a formal designation of biological classification; plural taxa (e.g. we are all members of the tax Homo Sapiens)

Question 19

Human biology

Answer 19

the branch of biological anthropology that aims to understand modern population diversity, its historical antecedents, and its relationship to the lived environment. In other words, it aims to discover what and who we are in the context of where and when we are

Question 20

Anthropometry

Answer 20

the measurement of body form; can inform on population health and nutrition

Question 21

Adaptability

Answer 21

the tenancy for an organism to achieve increased functional capacity through the modification of body form and/or physiological pathway when faced with an environmental stressor

Question 22

Molecular anthropology

Answer 22

the study of population diversity at the level of the gene and its products (both structural and regulatory proteins)

Question 23

DNA

Answer 23

deoxyribonucleic acid, the fundamental genetic material of life

Question 24

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Answer 24

DNA found within the mitochondria in a cell

Question 25

Genomics

Answer 25

the comparative study of the genomes of different species

Question 26

Functional genomics

Answer 26

the study of the dynamic actions and interactions of genes and proteins

Question 27

Primatology

Answer 27

the scientific study of the biology and behaviour of nonhuman primates (prosimians, monkeys, and apes)

Question 28

Keystone species

Answer 28

a species whose ecological role produces a disproportionate impact on its environment, including the status of other species; the loss of keystone species often has significant and deleterious consequences for the local ecosystem

Question 29

Processual approach

Answer 29

a view of organismic diversity and evolution emphasizing the current and historical dynamic interactions of organisms with their environment and ecology; requires a consideration of process (how things happen), function (how things work), comparison (how things differ within and among living and extinct forms), and evolution (where and when things appear).

Question 30

Anthropology

Answer 30

The study of humanity from the past and in the present “Anthropos” means human; “logos” means knowledge Examines the role of culture has on human behaviour Uses a holistic perspective (integrated whole) Uses a comparative method/perspective

Question 31

Paleoanthropology

Answer 31

Study of biological and cultural aspects of human and primate evolution Continuous debates (e.g. fossil taxonomy)

Question 32

2 types of applied biological anthropology

Answer 32

Medical anth: to understand population health and disease; Partnerships with local communities Forensic anth: identify human remains in a medicolegal context; Work with police, coroner, or international teams

Question 33

Paleonutrition

Answer 33

analysis of bone chemistry -> helps interpret diet

Question 34

Sherwood Washburn’s (1951) new paradigm for biological anthropology that involved:

Answer 34

A shift from typology (categorizing different forms) to population based perspective Multidisciplinary A focus on process, function, and evolutionary change Championed experimental approaches Introduced the idea of “mosaic evolution” (talking about different forms or shapes that can arise from a variety of environments) Introduced the idea of “mosaic evolution” (talking about different forms or shapes that can arise from a variety of environments)

Question 35

New biological anthropology

Answer 35

Interrelationship between biology and culture Emerged in the 1950s Focused on testing adaptive models Discovering the interconnectedness between genetics, environment, and human behaviour