Midterm 1

Question 1

What are 8 human traits/behaviors?

Answer 1

1. habitual and obligate bipeds
2. have complex language
3. reduced dimorphism
4. small canines
5. enlarged brains
6. slow pace of growth and development
7. fully opposable thumbs
8. always interacting w/ objects
9. sweaty apes

Question 2

precocial

Answer 2

mature days after birth (opposite-ish of altricial)

Question 3

altricial

Answer 3

the slow pace of growth and development

Question 4

obligate bipedalism

Answer 4

locomotion on 2 legs is the primary method

Question 5

facultative bipedalism

Answer 5

temporary locomotion on 2 feet (mainly walks on 4 legs)

Question 6

sexual dimorphism

Answer 6

difference in size/appearance of males and females within a species

Question 7

material culture

Answer 7

societies engage w/, modify, and use physical objects, tools, and resources

Question 8

How do humans differ?

Answer 8

1. humans live in different environments
2. diverse phenotypes
3. diverse behaviors (behavioral and cultural differences)

Question 9

evolution

Answer 9

change in the heritable characteristics of a biological population over successive reproductive generations
- occurs at the population level
- NOT linear/progressive

Question 10

natural selection

Answer 10

differential reproductive success based on variation in heritable traits

Question 11

what are the Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for Natural Selection

Answer 11

1. variation
2. inheritance
3. differential reproductive success

Question 12

stabilizing slection

Answer 12

average traits have more reproductive success

Question 13

directional selection

Answer 13

one extreme trait has more reproductive success

Question 14

disruptive selection

Answer 14

both extremes of a trait have more reproductive success

Question 15

sexual selection

Answer 15

selection favors traits that attract a mate and lead to reproductive success

Question 16

artificial success

Answer 16

man-selected traits that they find desirable and purposefully influence that breeding of the organism

Question 17

what are the 4 mechanisms of evolution?

Answer 17

• mutation (random)
• gene flow (random)
• genetic drift (random)
• natural selection (non-random)

Question 18

mutation

Answer 18

alteration in genetic material or processes

Question 19

gene flow

Answer 19

movement of genetic material form 1 population to another

Question 20

genetic drift

Answer 20

change in allele frequencies due to random chance
- greatest effect on small populations

Question 21

adaptations

Answer 21

change that allows an organism to survive in a given environment
- w/in pop. variability = similar adaptations in similar selective pressures
- btwn pop. variability = different adaptations in different selective pressures

Question 22

fixation

Answer 22

where 1 allele remains

Question 23

founder effect

Answer 23

reduction in variability that occurs when a small group of individuals become separated from a larger pop.

Question 24

population bottleneck

Answer 24

population reduces dramatically due to a catastrophic event (famine, natural disaster, etc.)

Question 25

scientific reasoning

Answer 25

specific empirical approach that builds upon previous research while seeking to destroy its basic tenets

Question 26

convergent evolution

Answer 26

when a similar trait arises in diff populations due to independent adaptive processes (same trait in a different environment)