Chapter 14

Question 1

biological determinism

Answer 1

the concept that phenomena, including various aspects of behavior (intelligence, morals, values) are governed by biological (genetic) factors; the inaccurate association of various behavioral attributes with certain biological traits, such as skin color

Question 2

eugenics

Answer 2

the philosophy of “race improvement” through the forced sterilization of members of some groups and increased reproduction among others; an overly simplified, often racist view that’s not discredited

Question 3

polytypic

Answer 3

referring to species composed of populations that differ in the expression of one or more traits

Question 4

polymorphisms

Answer 4

loci with more than one allele; can be expressed in the phenotype as the result of gene action (as in ABO), or they can exist solely at the DNA level within noncoding regions

Question 5

population genetics

Answer 5

the study of the frequency of alleles, genotypes, and phenotypes in populations from a micro-evolutionary perspective

Question 6

gene pool

Answer 6

the total complement of genes shared by the reproductive members of a population

Question 7

breeding isolates

Answer 7

populations that are clearly isolated geographically and/or socially form other breeding groups

Question 8

endogamy

Answer 8

mating with individuals from the same group

Question 9

exogamy

Answer 9

mating pattern whereby individuals obtain mates from groups other than their own

Question 10

Hardy-Weinberg theory of genetic equilibrium

Answer 10

the mathematical relationships expressing - under conditions in which no evolution is occurring - the predicted distribution of alleles in populations; the central theorem of population genetics

Question 11

nonrandom mating

Answer 11

pattern of mating in which individuals choose mates preferentially, with mate choice based on criteria such as social status, ethnicity, or biological relationship; an individual doesn’t have an equal chance of mating with all other individuals in the group

Question 12

inbreeding

Answer 12

a type of nonrandom mating in which relatives mate more often than predicted under random mating conditions

Question 13

incest avoidance

Answer 13

in animals, the tendency not to mate with close relatives; this tendency may be due to various social and ecological factors that keep the individuals apart; also may be innate factors that lead to incest avoidance, but these are not well understood

Question 14

slash-and-burn agriculture

Answer 14

a traditional land-clearing practice involving the cutting and burning of trees and vegetation; in many areas, fields are abandoned after a few years and clearing occurs elsewhere

Question 15

balanced polymorphism

Answer 15

the maintenance of two or more alleles in a population due to the selective advantage of the heterozygote

Question 16

lactase persistence

Answer 16

in adults, the continued production of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose (milk sugar); this allows adults in some human populations to digest fresh milk products; the discontinued production of lactase in adults leads to lactose intolerance and the inability to digest fresh milk