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Biological Anthropology > Final Exam > Flashcards

Final Exam Flashcards

1
Q

Paleolithic period describes

A

Appearance of stone tools (stone age)

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2
Q

Lithic tool ages (oldest to youngest)

A

Olduwan
Achulean
Mousterian

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3
Q

Cerebral rubicon

A

Threshold established by Keith at 750cc designations what species can be placed into genus homo

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4
Q

Homo habilis

A
  • Handy Man
  • Appeared in E. Africa around 2 MYA
  • Olduvai gorge & Turkana basin
  • highly fragmentary materials
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5
Q

Oldowan tools (3 types)

A

Hammer stones- show percussion damage, smash into other rocks
Stone cores- sharp edge on one side
Stone flakes- flakes off stone cores for fine cutting

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6
Q

Oldowan appear before/after first known homo habilis remains

A

Before

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7
Q

Cranial dental differences different from austalopiths to Homo (OH 24 “twiggy”)

A 
Similar incisors & canines
Reduced molars & premolars
M3 smaller than M2
No sagittal crests 
Slight post-orbital constriction
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8
Q

_____ first appears in H. Habilis

A

Modern shape to dental arcade (parabola)

AL 666-1

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9
Q

Post cranial traits of homo habilis

A
  • Robust hand bones, BUT also fine gripping capability
  • stout, adducted big toe
  • some climbing
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10
Q

Leakey revised cerebral rubicon

A

Bipedality
Upper limb shorter than lower limb
Grasping thumb
600-1600 cc brain

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11
Q

Leakeys

A
  • Olduvai discoveries- KNM-ER 1470 (1972)

- Established human evolutionary development in Africa

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12
Q

Homo rudolfensis (5) (as opposed to homo habilis)

A
  • Larger flatter face
  • larger brain (775 cc)
  • larger molars + premolars
  • trend toward modern human (except teeth)
  • KNM-ER 1470
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13
Q

Homo rudolfensis (5)

A
  • Larger flatter face
  • larger brain (775 cc)
  • larger molars & premolars
  • trend toward modern human (except teeth)
  • KNM-ER 1470
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14
Q

Single species hypothesis

A
  • Brace & wolpoff
  • super lumpers
  • Human & close ancestors = comprehensive niche, only 1 species can exist at a time
  • all variations in fossils from same period = intraspecific variation
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15
Q

Lumpers

A

Fewer species, intraspecific variation

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16
Q

Splitters

A

More species, interspecific variations

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17
Q

Evidence against single species hypothesis

A

More than 100cc difference in brain size

H rudolfensis = more gracile facial features

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18
Q

Interpretations of homo rudolfensis & homo habilis based on facts

A

KNM ER 1470 = homo rudolfensis, separate species

Homo habilis = ancestor of modern humans

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19
Q

What features distinguish the genus homo from other homini? (3)

A
  1. Encephalization
  2. Tool use
  3. Reduced dentition and facial features
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20
Q

Adaptability

A

Ontogenetic adaptation

Developmental change over lifetime/childhood

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21
Q

Acclimatization

A

Plastic physiological change over minutes/hrs/weeks in response to environment

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22
Q

adaptation

A

Microevolutionary adaptation

Genetic change over generations, evolution

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23
Q

Adaptability

A

Ontogenetic adaptation

Developmental change over lifetime/childhood

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24
Q

Acclimatization

A

Plastic physiological change over minutes/hrs/weeks

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25
Q

Behavioral/cultural adaptation

A

Decisions

Unconstrained

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26
Q

Bergmann’s rule

A

increase/decrease SA by changing volume

Smaller animals need more energy and diffuse more heat due to increase SA to volume ratio

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27
Q

Allen’s Rule

A

increase/decrease SA by changing proportions (ex: more elongated body)

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28
Q

Sickle cell anemia protects against

A

Malaria

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29
Q

Lactose intolerance

A

Lack lactase enzyme that allow us to digest lactose, lactase persistent allele= autosomal dominant

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30
Q

3 main types of evidence of change in early homo lineage

A

“Homo erectus”
Anatomical changes
Geographic distribution
Evidence of culture

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31
Q

Cranial traits of homo erectus

A 
Thick cranial bones
Large brow ridge
Long low skull
Cranium wider at base
Sagittal keel
700-1250 cc brain
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32
Q

Post cranial traits of homo erectus

A
  • Taller than early homo, height within modern human range
  • > 100lb in weight
  • sexual dimorphism
  • robust heavily built frame
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33
Q

Homo erectus geographical location

A

Africa
Georgia
Asia
Western Europe

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34
Q

ER 3733

A

Oldest H erectus fossil from Africa
1.7mya old
Found at East Lake Turkana

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35
Q

WT 15000

A

Most complete H erectus specimen found
Nariokotome boy (Nariokotome, Kenya in E Africa)
Juvenile

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36
Q

Dmanisi

A

Earliest known Homo (homini) outside Africa
1.8-1.7mya
Used olduwan tools

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37
Q

Dmanisi cranial traits (similarities and differences from H erectus)

A

Similar to H erectus: low braincase, wide base, sagittal keeling
Different from H erectus: smaller cranial capacity, less robust & thinner browridge, projecting lower face, relatively large canine

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38
Q

Dmanisi post cranial traits

A

Not tall, 4’9” to 5’5”

Body proportions similar to H erectus and H sapiens

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39
Q

Zhoukoudian remains

A 
Cave site in China
Remains of >40 adults and children
.7-.4 mya (recent)
Site occupied for ~250,000 yrs
Large browridges, sagittal keel, nuchal torus
Thick skull bones
Protruding face, broad near bottom
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40
Q

Atapuerca site

A 
Large amount of material
Earliest material resemble Dmanisi, later individuals = H heidelbergenesis?
Sophisticated stone tools
Cut marks on animal bones 
Long occupation
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41
Q

Earliest material from

A

Africa

Anatomical change of H erectus associated with behaviors related to emigration from Africa and appearance

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42
Q

Evidence of culture in H erectus

A 
Tool use (olduwan --> achulean)
Hunting?
Controlled fire?
Clothing?
Social structure (groups, sexual dimorphism)
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43
Q

Acheulian technology

A

Developed ~1.4mya
Handaxe or biface
Raw materials transported long distances
Butchering meat evident (doesn’t necessarily mean hunting)
Significant part of diet = plant materials

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44
Q

Reconstructing of zhoukoudian cave site behavior is based on

A

Homo erectus bone = habitation
High density of animal bones = diet
Ash layer = controlled fire + cooking

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45
Q

Evidence of Zhoukoudian cave site as hyena den

A

Homo erectus bones = hyena prey
Animal bone in high density = other prey (including hyena) lived there
Ash layer = natural organic deposits

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46
Q

African vs Asian homo erectus

A

African = thinner skull bones –> homo ergaster
Too big for H habilis
Too derived for H rudolfensis
Too generalized for H erectus

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47
Q

pliocene vs pleistocene homini

A 
pliocene = homo habilis/rudolfensis
pleistocene = everything else (homo erectus --> neanderthals/modern human)
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48
Q

pliocene to pleistocene transition

A

pleistocene = high environmental diversity (ice age), leveled out in halocene (our time)

neanderthals = built for the cold

49
Q

pliocene to pleistocene transition

A

pleistocene = high environmental diversity (ice age), leveled out in halocene (our time)

neanderthals = built for the cold

50
Q

What other species existed at the same time as homo habilis and homo rudolfensis? Same geographic region?

A

Australopithecus africanus, Au sediba, paranthropus robustus, and paranthropus boisei

51
Q

Expensive tissue hypothesis

A

Brains use a lot of energy, bigger brain and tool use allow human to have a higher quality diet, resulting in reduced digestive function (smaller gut + less time digesting)

52
Q

Homo erectus vs homo ergaster

A

Homo erectus = tall species of homo with increase encephalization and more wide + robust frames
Ergaster = specifically African erectus, thinner = much more rounded skull bones

53
Q

Asian homo erectus

A

more pronounced browridge

54
Q

homo erectus represents the transition from ______ to _______ (what tool ages?)

A

Oldowan, Alcheulean

55
Q

Did Dmanisi show evidence of caring for their elderly?

A

Yes, skeleton found of dmanisi with no teeth but lived to old age

56
Q

Nariokotome boy age determination

A
  1. skeletal evidence = ~13
  2. teeth eruption (9p12 years old) = ~11
  3. electron microscope dentine (teeth ring) = 8
57
Q

Homo heidelbergensis/rhodesiensis represent the lineage intermediate between ____ and _____/______

A

homo erectus, neanderthals/homo sapien

58
Q

heidelbergenesis is ancestral to ___?

A

denisovan/neanderthals (european)

59
Q

rhodesiensis is ancestral to ___?

A

homo sapien (african)

60
Q

archic homo cranial traits

A

more globular brain case (1000-1400cc)
steeper forehead + more rounded back of skull
smaller faces, mandibles, and molars

61
Q

archaic homo post-cranial traits

A

thinner bones, less muscles than erectus

62
Q

archaic homo cultural/behavioral traits

A

hunted large game (the hunting techniques of erectus is disputed)
possible death rituals + cannibalism (eat the dead)

63
Q

archaic homo cultural/behavioral traits

A

culturally more derived than erectus:
middle paleolithic stone tools
no known associated art
hunted large game (the hunting techniques of erectus is disputed)
possible death rituals + cannibalism (eat the dead)

64
Q

Homo antecessor

A

not recognized by book
european variant of homo erectus
.8-1.1 mya
Atapuerca, spain
thought to be ancestral to us at one point, does not line up with molecular phylogeny dating
canine fossa = fixed AMH trait, rare polymorphism in archaic human
found in homo antecessor

65
Q

archaic human geographic and time period

A

700-200kya

all over the world

66
Q

when/where does first & oldest AMH appear in fossil record?

A

200-150kya, Omo Africa

67
Q

when/where does homo neanderthals appear in fossil record?

A

200-30kya, European/Asia area

68
Q

Neanderthal cranial traits (6)

A 
large brow ridge
big nodes
puffy face
retromolar gap
occipital bun
lack chin
69
Q

neanderthal post-cranial trait

A

shorter legs
joint articulation
more robust limb bones
more limb shaft curvature

70
Q

neanderthal cultural/behavioral similarities to human

A

buried dead
cared for elderly/vulnerable
had art (even before human arrived)
Mousterian stone technology

71
Q

Archaic human comprised of

A

anything that’s not modern human

72
Q

Archaic human comprised of

A

anything that’s not modern human

73
Q

DNA extraction

A

organic fossil material
colder = better
unlikely to get genetic data from anything over 100kya (australoiths + early homo)

74
Q

Are neanderthals and modern human genome phylogeneticallu distinct?

A

yes

75
Q

Did interbeeding occur between neanderthals and modern human?

A

yes, shared DNA

76
Q

modern human origins: 2 main views

A

Replacement (out of Africa), multiregionalism (regional continuity)

77
Q

Replacement (out of Africa)

A

AMH evolved in Africa, dispersed out, replaced archaic Eurasian populations as they met, no/minimal admixture

78
Q

Multiregionalism (regional continuity)

A

Homo erectus emigrated out of Africa –> Eurasia, evolved in concert in Africa + Eurasia into homo sapien
Large gene flow between archaic populations

79
Q

Replacement (out of Africa) theory based on genetic evidence

A

higher genetic diversity within Africa, bottleneck effect during migration out of Africa –> founder effect

80
Q

Replacement (out of Africa) theory based on genetic evidence

A

higher genetic diversity within Africa, bottleneck effect during migration out of Africa –> founder effect

clear separation of modern human + neanderthal mtDNA

81
Q

When/where did homo floresiensis live?

A

Same time as early AMH, flores, indonesia

82
Q

Sima de los huesos mtDNA more closely related to that of the

A

Denisovan

83
Q

Are neanderthals and modern human genome phylogeneticallu distinct?

A

yes, based on both mtDNA and nuclear DNA

84
Q

Denisovan

A

morphologically unknown, genome sequenced based on a molar and finger
found to be closely related to neanderthals, interbred with MH and Neanderthals

85
Q

Homo floresiensis (4)

A

The “hobbit”, small brain + body
originally thought to be a human with dwarfism/ microcephalitis, found many species –> separate species
lived at same time as early AMH
flores, indonesia

86
Q

paleolithic cultural innovations

A

stone age = tools

87
Q

neolithic cultural innovations

A

agriculture, animal domestication,clothing, language

88
Q

biocultural evolution

A

effect change in culture has on genetics (ex: expensive tissue)

89
Q

Is there a scientific basis for race

A

no, all cultural

90
Q

is there a lot of genetic variation in human

A

no, human more like each other genetically than all the other apes are with each other

91
Q

How many races are there?

A

unlimited depending on different classifications

92
Q

Is there more variation within human groups or amongst human groups

A

within

93
Q

clinal effect

A

correlation between latitude and skin darkness.
higher latitude = more pale, less vitamin D present
Lighter skin = absorb more vitamin D, increases skin cancer rate + folate depletion

94
Q

forensic anthropology

A

analysis of human skeleton for legal, criminal, and civil purposes (identification)

95
Q

traits used to determine gender

A 
pelvis (women = wider)
brow ridge (men = more pronounced)
chin (male = more square)
mastoid process (male = more pronounced)
jaw (men = more acute/sharp)
96
Q

Estimate age of human remain

A

suture closure
unfused = child
lines = adolescent
fused = adult/elderly

97
Q

Why are arctic people darker than predicted

A

marine diet high in vitamin D, don’t need to get it from sunlight

98
Q

Estimate age of human remain

A

1) suture closure (skull)
2) epiphyseal union (femur head)
unfused = child
lines = adolescent
fused = adult/elderly
3) tooth eruption

99
Q

How to determine ancestry/”race”?

A

FORDISC (computer program)

100
Q

bioarchaeologist reconstruct past behavior based on: (3)

A

osteoarthritis, strong muscle attachment, bone geometry

more porous bones develop faster

101
Q

Diet reconstruction based on

A

1) stable isotope analysis (C + N)
carbon ration determine if diet is primarily plants, animals, or marine
N more present in plants
2)Tooth enamel

102
Q

Sickle cell anemia benefits?

A

convey heterozygote advantage, carriers do not have malaria

103
Q

lactose tolerance

A

European population = more agriculture, most people drink milk –> developed lactase persistence allele

104
Q

Most lactose tolerant population

A

European

105
Q

Most lactose intolerant population

A

Asian

106
Q

lactose tolerance

A

Derived trait
European population = more agriculture, most people drink milk –> developed lactase persistence allele –> allowed digestion of lactose

107
Q

R selection

A

(Reproduce like rabbits)

many young, little parental care

108
Q

K selection

A

few young, high parental care

109
Q

Maturational constraints hypothesis

A

big brain = delayed maturation, need time to learn

110
Q

Cognitive buffer hypothesis

A

big brain = smarter = lower mortality rates

can afford to go slow

111
Q

Stochastic environment

A

we live in a chaotic environment
wait for the best time to have kids because raising offspring when resources are scarce is not ideal (high mortality rate)
cope by having few offspring, wait long periods in between, and invest lots of energy into offspring

112
Q

Stable environment

A

our habitat is generally stable, allow us to go slow

113
Q

life history milestone

A

gestational period, weaning age, skeletal maturity, sexual maturity, menopause, death

114
Q

uniqueness of human life history

A

we live a long time past reproductive age

115
Q

Why menopause? (2)

A
  1. Grandmother hypothesis
    adaptation, elderly women stop reproducing and instead care for grandchildren
  2. byproduct of increased lifespan
116
Q

Do all primates grow at the same rate? homini?

A

No, no

117
Q

How to determine life history

A

dental eruption patterns, barium (breast milk) + weaning –> look at enamel around development

118
Q

neanderthal development timeline

A

homo habilis –> homo rudolfensis –> homo erectus –> homo heidelbergensis –> neanderthals (europe/asia)

119
Q

human development timeline

A

homo habilis –> homo rudolfensis –> homo ergaster –> homo rhodensiensis –> homo sapien (Africa)

Biological Anthropology (2 decks)

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