Humans Flashcards
Self-medication
What are medicines used for?
prevent or treat diseases
used by humans and other animals
by definition ‘medicines’ are toxic to something
Examples of self-medication other than humans
Chimpanzees use plants w/ medicinal properties - plant = Vernonia - to rid themselves of parasites
Galapagos finches rub themselves with insect repellent substances from leaves - medicate against parasites
Fruit flies consume alcohol to cope with rejection by females - they find fermented fruit with high alcohol contents - recreational use
What can self-medication have consequences on? and examples?
evolution of animals in question
e.g. may influence evolution of the immune system (weaker selection to protect against diseases which are treated externally), teaching (using medication effectively requires learning how to do this from someone who knows), toxin resistance (medicines are toxic so their use may promote evolution of resistance which can lead to heavier use), and cultural evolution (particularly when medications and/or diseases differ between populations)
what is cultural evolution?
passing ideas between people instead of just genes between generation
tool use?
exists in non-human animals
good example of cultural evolution
different groups of chimpanzees use the same types of tools (e.g. sticks and leaves) - but specific ‘designs’ + production mechanisms vary between populations (similar effectiveness)
What is still important when doing studies on humans?
ethics - important when communicating findings
findings taken personally
Advantages and disadvantages of studying humans
advantages:
- asking humas questions
disadvantages:
- people can lie
- ethical issues - applying averages on self can cause ethical issues
What do ethics demand?
careful communication
interpretations may differ - e.g. news headlines, can cause ethical issues
