Anthropology Final Flashcards
Fetal Programming proposes which major point?
That a developing fetus uses cues to assess not only the environment of gestation but also the postnatal environment. Thus, the baby’s system is programmed to be ready for the same conditions it experiences in utero (i.e. stressful pregnancy tells fetus to prepare for stressful life).
What effects does prenatal fetal nutrition have on metabolism?
Adequate fetal nutrition leads to normal metabolism
Poor fetal nutrition leads to thrifty metabolism
Unpredicted postnatal environment conditions may lead to ________. Why?
Illnesses (such as: Adult obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
Biologically, fetus had prepared for a certain lifestyle, only to be born and experience another.
What is the significance of the Dutch Famine? Why is it important? (4 points)
- Remarkable sample of around 3000 mothers and babies who survived on 500-700 calories/day
- The famine was imposed on a previously well-nourished population and there was a sudden onset and relief from the famine
- Detailed records were kept my doctors and midwives
- Several cities kept birth records which allows the study of those born during those times, in order to see the long-term effects of prenatal famine exposure
The Dutch Famine occurred during the year ____, World War II. Holland was seized by Nazis who shut down ___ _______.
1944; food production
What are the long-term consequences of prenatal famine exposure?
- early gestation appears the most vulnerable period; people conceived during the famine were at greater risk of schizophrenia and depression, more responsive to stress, and had doubled rate of coronary disease
- women who were exposed to famine prenatally had more children, had more twins, less likely to remain childless, had children at earlier age
Why is stress different for humans? Two reasons.
1) Extremely large, fertile imagination. Ability to get stressed out solely due to thoughts instead of events
2) Social situations we live in; the things that stress us are unique to humans
______ ______ is twice more likely among males; whereas
______ _______ is twice more likely among females.
Substance abuse; clinical depression
Stress influences ______ which turns on/off certain genes (known as ______ ________); these genes manifest themselves in the ______.
methylation; gene expression; phenotype
What are three points in critique of the race concept?
In other words: why is the idea of race not a useful categorization of human biological variation?
1) Human variation is continuous (i.e. skin colour varies even within race)
2) Human variation is nonconcordant (phenotype traits tend to vary independent of each other)
3) Far more diversity exists within a human ‘race’ than between them
The field of study that deals with the analysis of human skeletal remains from unexplained deaths is called ______ _______.
forensic anthropology
What is the goal of forensic anthropology? What are the three roles? What type of situations does it study?
Goal is to provide a biological profile (potential race, age, sex, etc.).
Three roles:
- recover human remains
- identify human remains
- determine time and/or cause of death
Type of situations:
- mass disasters (e.g. plane crashes)
- violent crime
- burned beyond recognition victims (e.g. house fires)
Something older than ___ years is no longer considered ______ but is now _______.
50/fifty; medicolegal; archaeological
The perception of the near infallibility of forensic science in response to forensic-based TV shows, which places unresaonable expectations on actual forensic practictioners is known as what?
The CSI Effect.
The use of insect activity as a measure of time of death is known as _____ _____.
Forensic Entomolgy
Decomposition rates vary with _____ ____ & _____.
season, latitude, humidity
What are the primary and secondary evidence to identify the sex of decdent?
The pelvis (primary) and the skull (secondary)
What are the differences between male and female pelvis (3 differences)?
- Female pelvis have a larger pelvic inlet (birth canal)
- Subpubic angle is less than 90° in males and greater than 90° in females
- Males overall have a larger pelvis
What are the differences between female and male skulls (4 differences)?
- Crest and ridges are less pronounced in females
- Chin significantly more square in males
- Mastoid process wide and robust in males
- Forehead slopes more in males; females tend to be more flat-faced
In determining the age of decedent, what are the best methods for: Ages 0-5 Ages 6-25 Ages 25-40 Ages 40+
Ages 0-5: Teeth are best (forensic odontology)
Ages 6-25: Epiphyseal fusion; fusion of bone ends to bone shaft; varies with sex and typically complete at age 25
Ages 25-40: very difficult - usually no signs of old age
Ages 40+: wear and tear on bones (periodontal disease, arthritis, breakdown of pelvis, etc.)
The shaft, or central part, of long bones is called _____.
The end part of long bones is called _____.
diaphysis; epiphysis
What might make it difficult to determine the ancestry of decedent?
Biracial mixing
In determining the ancestry of decedent, which bones are most important? How do these differ in those of Asian and African ancestry?
Facial bones; shovel shaped incisors (teeth) in Asians and nasal guttering in Africans
When does sexual differentiation begin (in fetuses)?
7-8 weeks, nature’s default is female
Become a male is ______ hormone-dependent, becoming a female is _____ hormone-dependent
totally; largely
What is the human sex ratio at conception and at birth. Why does this change in that period?
At conception - 120 males: 100 females
At birth - 105 males: 100 females
Maternal stress has a huge impact which brings the at-birth ratio down
