Lecture/Lab 1

Question 1

what are the three broad categories for dealing with stressors?

Answer 1

1. Behaviour adaptations
   putting on a jacket
2. phenotypically plastic adaptations
   shivering to produce heat
3. genetic adaptations
   over long periods of time, maybe producing more hair?

Question 2

what does biological anthropology seek to contribute to society?

Answer 2

Ultimately seeks to understand biological variation in human and non-human primates.

Question 3

What are the 6 steps to the “scientific process” and what are its characteristics?

Answer 3

1. ask a question
2. propose a hypothesis
3. seek to reject the hypothesis with data
4. analyze and interpret data
5. develop conclusions
6. close or continue the investigation

characteristics: flexible, dynamic, and unpredictable

Question 4

Define CIVD, and which population is most adapted to this condition?

Answer 4

cold-induced vasodilation
people who live in really cold climates, ie. Inuit

Question 5

who said the quote: “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution”

Answer 5

Theodiosius Dobzhansky

Question 6

Explain what the HPA is and how it combats stressors.

Answer 6

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Once a stressor is detected by your sympathetic nervous system the hypothalamus secretes corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Then in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland CRH stimulates the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). this signals the adrenal glands to produce glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans) in response to ACTH, and cortisol will generate a stress response. Also known as the “fight or flight” response

Question 7

define a stressor.

Answer 7

anything that acts to bring us away from homeostasis or our “stable state”

Question 8

what are the three categories of evidence used to understand the evolution of whales from land to aquatic mammals?

Answer 8

1. Mammary Glands
2. Fossil Evidence - in mountains - heavy oxygen atoms
3. Involucrum and astragalus

Question 9

what are the animals most commonly transmitting viruses to humans?

Answer 9

Birds and pigs

Question 10

What are the 5 components to viruses?

Answer 10

1. RNA
2. Proton Channel
3. Hemagglutinin
4. Neuraminidase
5. Matrix

Question 11

Define the following terms:
1. Homeostasis
2. Physiological niche
3. Ecological Amplitude
4. Stress
5. Adaptation

Answer 11

1. The internal stable state that we must always try to be in or move back to
2. mechanisms that keep an organism within their homeostatic ranges
3. range of environmental stimulus that an organism is still able to carry out normal vital functions.
4. anything that brings an organism away from their homeostatic range
5. something that allows an organism to maintain within their homeostatic range