Evolutionary and environmental health L9

Question 1

what is a proximate factor

Answer 1

causal factors, the way an individual behaves in their lifetime

Question 2

what are environmental factors

Answer 2

factors influencing survival, heritable traits

Question 3

thrifty genotype=

Answer 3

genes related to type 2 diabetes enabled people in feast/famine environments to survive

Question 4

in the thrifty genotype what does insulin resistance allow

Answer 4

it makes muscles and other organs reject insulin as the brain doesn’t need insulin to absorb glucose

Question 5

thrifty phenotype

Answer 5

type 2 diabetes has an environmental rather than genetic basis (fetal nutrition)

Question 6

explain the thrifty phenotype

Answer 6

if maternal nutrition is inadequate the growing fetus diverts nutrients to the brain at the expense of other organs

Question 7

what is Gout characterised by

Answer 7

painful, red, inflamed joints especially big toe

Question 8

what causes gout

Answer 8

excess uric acid in blood

Question 9

what enzyme breaks down uric acid

Answer 9

uricase

Question 10

what did loss of uricase enable

Answer 10

fat reserves to be built up for winter but exposed humans to risk of gout