Biological Anthropology Exam #1 Flashcards
What is a hominin? What traits are unique to hominins?
- A hominin refers to the lineage that diverged from the common ancestor of the chimpanzee and includes homo sapiens and our recent human ancestors.
- Some traits include bipedal locomotion, erect posture, larger brains, long adolescence, language, high cognition, omnivores, sweat, and cooking.
What are the main components of the anthropological approach, what are the four subfields of anthropology?
The main components include context and holistic approach.
- Context involves the time, space, environment, historical circumstances, and cultural practices.
- Holistic approach requires a consideration of context to gain an understanding of the broader picture.
- The four subfields of anthropology include cultural, linguistic, archaeology, and biocultural.
What is the difference between a structural and a regulatory gene?
- Structural genes code for any RNA or protein product. They code for proteins needed for structure and function. - - Regulatory genes control the expression of one or more structural genes by regulating the rate of transcription.
What did Relethford’s study show about the distribution of human genetic variability? What is the relevance of his findings to the concept of race? Why is it difficult, if not impossible, to classify human variation into races?
- Relethford studied the global distribution of cranial form, skin color, and genetic markers
- His study found that there is 10% variation between regions and 90% variation within regions
- Variability tends to vary within, not between populations; therefore, human variation is not divisible in biological races
- Human variation is distributed mostly in clines (eg. skin color)
Allen’s Rule and Bergmann’s Rule
- Allen’s rule: organisms in hot climates have longer limbs and shorter limbs in higher altitudes
- Bergmann’s rule: organisms in hot climates have a long, linear body shape and a thick and compact body shape in cold climates
