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Anthropology > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is anthropology?

A

■ Anthropology is the study of humankind
■ Anthropology views humans as both biological and cultural beings
■ Emphasizes a holistic and comparative approach

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2
Q

What is physical anthropology?

A

Study of human biology, specifically in the evolution and variation of humans

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3
Q

What makes us human and different from other animals?

A 
■	Humans are the product of millions of years of evolution
■	6 unique human physical and behavioral characteristics 
●	 Bipedalism 
●	Nonhoning chewing 
●	Complex material and tool use 
●	Hunting 
●	Speech 
●	Dependence on domesticated foods
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4
Q

How do physical anthropologists know what they know?

A

They derive knowledge using the scientific method by formulating hypotheses to eventually lead to theories about our world

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5
Q

the six big events of human evolution (BNMSHD)

A
  1. Bipedalism 6 MYA
  2. Nonhoning chewing 5.5 MYA (absense of distama)
  3. Material culture and tools 2.5 MYA
  4. Speech 2.5 MYA
  5. Hunting, cooperative 1 MYA
  6. Domestication of plants 11 KYA
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6
Q

Define the scientific method; hypothesis, theory, scientific law

A

Scientific Method: A self correcting approach to knowledge acquisition
(6 steps)
Observations of natural world
Identify a problem
Formulate a hypothesis
Test the hypothesis using data
Provisionally accept (or reject) the hypothesis
Replicate the hypothesis test/formulate an alternative hypothesis
Hypothesis: A tentative statement that potentially explains a specific phenomenon observed in the natural world. (Testable, modifiable, falsifiable)
Scientific Theory: An explaination about the natural world built through rigorous hypothesis tests (testable, modifiable, falsifiable)

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7
Q

the academic disciplines/fields that informed Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection, including the people and concepts associated with each of these areas

A
  • In 1800s Charles Darwin proposed the savanna hypothesis, attributing the origin of bipedalism to shift from tree-living to grassland-living in open savanna
  • In 2001 remains of hominins from 5 mya were discovered in Ethiopia. Paleo-environmental and morphological evidence suggest these bipedal creatures lived in woodlands
  • The savanna hypothesis rejected with counter empirical evidence –exemplifies the self-correcting nature of scientific explanation
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8
Q

Define Adaptations

A

Physical structure, function, or behavior (or changes in these traits) that allow an organism or species to survive and reproduce in a given environment

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9
Q

Define natural selection

A

The process by which some organisms, with features that enable them to adapt to the environment, preferentially survive and reproduce, thereby increasing the frequency of those features in a populatio

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10
Q

define Uniformitarianism

A

theory that geologic processes that occurred in the past are still occurring today

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11
Q

define Catastrophism

A

cataclysmic events events, not evolution, are responsible for geological changes

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12
Q

define Lamarckism

A
  • The form (morphology) of a species is related to its environment
  • A species could change in response to an environmental change
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13
Q

Mendel’s mechanisms of inheritance

A
  • In his observation of plants, Mendel concluded that a discrete physical unit was responsible for transmission of traits (now called a gene)
  • Mendel also discovered that the traits in pea plants did not blend
  • Mendel inferred that there are alternate forms of a gene called “alleles”
  • The combination of genes (alleles) from each parent determines the trait expressed in the offspring
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14
Q

define genes and alleles; dominance and recessive

A
  • Gene: The basic unit of inheritance (offspring inherit one gene from each parent)
  • Alleles: Different variants of a gene
  • Alleles are dominant (ex. T) or recessive (ex. t)
  • Homozygous: Both alleles are the same for a trait (TT)
  • Heterozygous: The alleles for a trait differ (Tt)
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15
Q

genotypes and phenotypes, including how both of these are formed

A
  • Genotype: The genetic makeup (heterozygous or homozygous)

- Phenotype: The physical characteristics (appearance)

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16
Q

Mendel’s law of segregation; law of independent assortment

A
  • Law of Segregation: Two alleles for any given gene are inherited, one from each parent. During gamete production, only one of two alleles will be present in each ovum or sperm
  • Law of Independent Assortment: Inheritance of one trait does not affect the inheritance of other traits.
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17
Q

Define evolutionary synthesis

A

Evolutionary synthesis (Modern synthesis– Darwin + Mendel)
Evolution is genetic change in a population or species
Evolution is caused by 4 forces:
Natural selection
Mutation; a random change in a gene or chromosome
Gene flow; the spread of genetic material from one population to another
Genetic drift; a random change in the frequency of alleles from a generation to the next
c . Foundation for evolution biological esp. Population genetics

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18
Q

types of cells—somatic vs. gamete, diploid/haploid

A

Two types of eukaryotic cells
Somatic (body) cells
Diploid: have a full complement of paired chromosomes
Replicated via mitosis
Gamete (reproductive) cells
Haploid: Have a single set of unpaired chromosomes, half of the genetic material
Produced via meiosis

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19
Q

DNA: what it is made of, how it is structured, the different types that exist

A
  • A strand of repeating nucleotides with variable nitrogen bases
  • Double-helix ladder with two sides bonded by complementary bases (A-T/T-A or G-C/C-G) of paired nucleotides
  • Contains coding regions (genes) and non-coding regions (“junk” DNA)
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20
Q

Chromosomes; autosomes vs. sex chromosomes

A 
-Packages of DNA strands
In somatic cells, occurs in homologous (matching) pairs
One in each pair from each parent
-Two types
-Autosomes (non-sex chromosomes)
-Sex chromosomes 
-X, Y
-Females are XX, males are XY
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21
Q

Karyotype of human species (be able to describe key characteristics)

A
  • Karyotype: The characteristics (#, size, type, etc.) of the complete set of chromosomes contained within each somatic cell for an organism or species
  • Humans karyotype includes 46 chromosomes
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22
Q

mitosis & meiosis

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A
  • Mitosis: Somatic cell replication
  • Starts with one diploid cell
  • Results in 2 identical, diploid daughter cells
  • Meiosis: Gamete production
  • Starts with one diploid cell
  • Results in 4, non identical haploid gamete cells (4 sperm cells, 1 egg cell)
23
Q

cross-over, recombination

Study These Flashcards
A
  • Cross-over: The process by which homologous chromosomes wrap around each other and exchange genetic information during meiosis
  • Recombination: The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes as a result of cross-over
24
Q

haplotypes, haplogroups, gene linkage

Study These Flashcards
A

Haplotypes: A group of alleles that tend to be inherited as a unit due to their spatial proximity on a single chromosome
Genes that are close together are less likely to be separated or recombined, and thus are passed on as a unit for generations
Groups of related haplotypes are called haplogroups
Gene linkage: The inheritance of a package of genes (e.g. haplotype) from the same chromosome

25
What DNA do?
1. Replicate | 2. Provides codes for proteins
26
Define Polymorphism
Polymorphism: The presence of 2 or more separate phenotypes for a certain gene in the population
27
Define codominance; polygenic traits; pleiotropy; heritability
-Codominance: Two alleles can be codominant Both are expressed No intermediate form is expressed Ex. AB blood types express both A and B traits -Polygenic Traits: Coded by more than one pair of alleles -Pleiotropy: Single allele codes for multiple traits -Heritability: The proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to inheritance rather than environmental influence
28
Define population and species
- Population: A local group of organisms that have similar genes, interbreed, and produce offspring. - Species: A group of related organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile, viable offspring. - In other words, a species is a group of organisms that are reproductively isolated from other populations.
29
Define micro vs. macroevolution
- Microevolution: Small scale evolution, changes in allele frequency from one generation to the next. (occurs frequently) - Macroevolution: Substantial change over many generations, exemplified by a speciation event. (i.e. rise of a new species) (RARELY occurs)
30
Define population genetics
- Population Genetics: The study of changes in a population’s genetic material (allele frequency) across generations - Examines how genotypic and phenotypic frequency and phenotypic frequency change over time within a population
31
Define gene pool; equilibrium
- Gene Pool: All the genetic information in the breeding population - Equilibrium: A condition in which the system is stable and unchanging - A population is in equilibrium if the frequencies of alleles for a particular trait remain constant across generations (absence of evolution)
32
Hardy-Weinberg law of equilibrium, including the conditions for equilibrium and how to use the HW equation to solve problems
-Hardy-Weinberg Law of Equilibrium: A mathematical model (using two equations) that shows the equilibrium genotype frequencies as a function of the allele frequencies. -Suppose a single locus only has two possible alleles, R (dominant) and r (recessive), with perspective allele frequencies of p and q, and then.. p+q=1 -Assume that males and females have the same allele frequencies. Then frequencies for genotypes RR, rr, and Rr will be p^2, q^2, and 2pq. p^2+2pq+q^2=1
33
What are the 4 forces of evolution?
1. Mutation 2. Natural Selection 3. Genetic drift 4. Gene flow
34
Define fitness (reproductive success)
average number of offspring produced by parents with a particular genotype compared to the number of offspring produced by parents with another genotype
35
natural selection: directional, stabilizing and disruptive selection
- Directional selection: Selection for one extreme of phenotypic distribution - Stabilizing selection: Selection against the extremes of the phenotypic distribution - Disruptive selection: Selection against the center of phenotypic distribution
36
peppered moth and industrial melanism
Prior to 1840’s in england, the peppered moth were light colored (non-melanic) As pollution began to cover trees with dark film, these moths became more visible and were increasingly preyed upon by birds
37
genetic drift; founder effect
- Genetic Drift: Changes in allele frequencies produced by random factors - Produces irregular and non directional effects - Has a greater effect in smaller populations - Founder effect: A special kind of genetic drift - A small, non-representative group founds a separate population - Over time, reproductive isolation further enhances the difference from parent population
38
gene flow
- Gene flow: The exchange of alleles between two populations - Gene flow increases genetic diversity - Gene flow counteracts the effect of genetic drift
39
Hutton
- Uniformitarianism- Processes that were at work in the geologic past are still at work today - The earth is older
40
Cuvier
- Comparative anatomy | - Fossils found in geologic strata provide the history of past life-forms
41
Lamarck
Attempted to explain how living organisms could have evolved out of earlier species Changing environmental conditions could lead to inheritance of acquired characteristics
42
Mendel
- Explained how inheritance occurs from their specific parents to their offspring - Traits are passed on as discrete units - We now call these units genes - Known today as mendelian genetics
43
Watson and Crick
discovered DNA double-helix structure, worked with X-ray diffraction photographs taken in 1953 by Rosalind Franklin, awarded Nobel prize in 1953
44
Lyell
● rediscovered and reinforced Hutton’s ideas (1830), provided more geologic evidence
45
Linnaeus
-System of classification of life forms (systema natura) -Binomial nomenclature (two-name system) genus=homo // species=sapiens -Still assumed the the “fixity of species” and the hierarchy of species -BUT, had the idea of classifying species according to the “degree of relationship” between them (Big contribution)
46
Darwin
developed the hypothesis that human bipedalism was linked to the shift from life in trees to life on the ground, based on his own observations of humans walking, other scientists anatomical evidence or information drawn from
47
Gould
paleontologist who observed the distinguished punctuated equilibrium (rapid evolutionary changes that interrupted long periods of evolutionary stasis in exoskeletons of animals) from gradualism which is long/slow evolution
48
Franklin
x-ray crystallographer who worked with Watson and Crick
49
Hardy and Weinberg
developed the equilibrium used in population genetics used to assess whether gene frequencies have changed from one generation to the next, also used to estimate the genotype frequencies of the subsequent generation, uses Punnett squares
50
Hooke
- Microscope | - Fossils represent past life-forms
51
Malthus
- Developed the concept of characteristics for survival - If unchecked, the human population would increase geometrically and indefinitely - Human population sizes are limited by food supplies - Those who can successfully compete for food and survive
52
Wallace
contributed substantially to evolutionary theory by means of natural selection and arrived at almost the same conclusions as Darwin, but Darwin published Originfirst causing him to be recognized as the discoverer
53
Watson
contributed substantially to evolutionary theory by means of natural selection and arrived at almost the same conclusions as Darwin, but Darwin published Originfirst causing him to be recognized as the discoverer
54
Morgan
discovered that chromosomes carry genetic material in the form of genes and both the hereditary material with its carriers are duplicated during reproductive cell division

Anthropology (1 decks)

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