ANTH 1000 - Ch. 12

Question 1

race

Answer 1

in biology, a subspecies or a population of a species differing geographically, morphologically, or genetically from other populations of the same species; not applicable to people because the division of humans into discrete types does not represent the true nature of human biological variation. In some societies, it is an important social category

Question 2

racism

Answer 2

a doctrine of superiority by which one group justifies the dehumanization of others based on their distinctive physical characteristics

Question 3

polymorphic

Answer 3

describing species with alternative forms (alleles) of particular genes

Question 4

polytypic

Answer 4

describing the expression of genetic variants in different frequencies in different populations of a species

Question 5

epicanthic eye fold

Answer 5

a fold of skin at the corner of the eye that covers the true corner of the eye; common in Asiatic populations

Question 6

lactose

Answer 6

a sugar that is the primary constituent of fresh milk

Question 7

lactase

Answer 7

an enzyme in the small intestine that enables humans to assimilate lactose

Question 8

thrifty genotype

Answer 8

human genotype that permits efficient storage of fat to draw on in time of food shortage and conservation of glucose and nitrogen

Question 9

melanin

Answer 9

the chemical responsible for dark skin pigmentation that helps protect against damage from ultraviolet radiation