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ANT203 > Modern Human Variation 3 > Flashcards

Modern Human Variation 3 Flashcards

1
Q

developmental plasticity

A
  • genome-environment interactions
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2
Q

skin

A
  • a type of epithelium; protective layer of cells
  • largest organ in integumentary system; skin, hair, fingernails
  • three layers, hyodermis, dermis, epidermis
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3
Q

functions of skin

A
  • protection of tissues
  • thermal regulation
  • excretion
  • sensation
  • storage
  • vitamin D synthesis
  • protection from UV
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4
Q

melanin

A
  • produced by melanocytes; epidermis
  • pigment granules concentrated in melanosomes
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5
Q

human skin tone phenotype

A
  • melanin production; can vary depending on environmental factors
  • dispersion from basal cells
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6
Q

human skin tone genotype

A
  • polygenic; >60 genes
  • MC1R gene; highly polymorphic, evolutionary context
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7
Q

gloger’s rule

A
  • greater pigmentation = lower latitudes
  • clinal distribution
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8
Q

Disadvantages of UV rays

A
  • sunburn
  • skin barrier
  • cancer
  • chemical and vitamin breakdown
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9
Q

what does melanin act as

A

a protective barrier

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10
Q

natural selection and skin tone

A
  • UV rays are necessary for human survival; vitamin D production is stimulated by UV
  • another lesser-factor is folate, which is aquired from diet
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11
Q

vitamin D

A
  • causes skeletal growth, calcium transportation, kidney function
  • required exposure
  • if insufficient, can cause rickets or osteomalacia
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12
Q

adaptation to UV environment

A
  • darker skin serves as a protective function from the sun; important when there is intense UV radiation
  • lighter skin allows for higher vitamin D production, important when there is less UV radiation
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13
Q

vitamin D and Folate

A
  • both important in reproductive outcomes
  • folate and pregnancy; neural development, DNA synthesis and repair, sperm
  • vitamin D and pregnancy; sex hormones, semen, gonads
  • need balance between sufficient vitamin D and protection of folate
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14
Q

evolution of human skin tone

A
  • dark skin pigmentation evolved in humans; lighter skin tone + pelts, when there was a loss of pelts there was a need for increased melanin production
  • light skin mutation found in neanderthals; M1CR, found at higher altitudes
  • migration to higher altitudes with less sunlight decreased melanin production
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15
Q

evolution of human skin tone and africa

A
  • genotype-phenotype
  • almost all skin types are known to exist in africa
  • SLC24A5 dipigmentation gene also evident in africa; polygenic
  • some light skin tone variants in europe have origins in africa
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16
Q

‘cheddar man’

A
  • prehistoric remains in UK
  • aDNA genetic sequencing
  • estimation of skin and eye colour
17
Q

vitamin D and skin tone

A
  • seasonal variation of vitamin D in toronto
  • circulating vitamin D in lower east and south asian groups
  • implications for health in cold, heavily clothes environment
18
Q

racial categories linneaus

A
  • europaeus albus: ‘governed by laws’
  • americanus rubescens: ‘governed by opinion’
  • asiaticus fiscus: ‘governed by opinion’
  • africanus niger: ‘governed by caprice
19
Q

racial categories cuvier

A
  • caucasoid
  • mongoloid
  • negroid
20
Q

factors of racial categories

A
  • geographical
  • cultural affiliation, religion, language
21
Q

problems of racial categories

A
  • socially constructed, highly variable
  • variation exists in response to different selective pressures
  • conventionally based on place of origin
  • there is more genetic variation seeen WITHIN groups vs BETWEEN groups
  • there is actually greater variability within africa, with decreasing variability with distance from africa
22
Q

racial categories/visual appearance

A
  • skin tones
  • hair/eye colour
  • body shape and proportions
  • facial/cranial characteristics
23
Q

problems in visual appearance of racial categories

A
  • what about non-visual variants?
  • polygenic traits; continuous not discrete variation, different genes experiencing different selection pressures
24
Q

out of africa model

A

Homo sapiens developed first in Africa and then spread around the world between 100 and 200,000 years ago, superseding all other hominid species

25
Q

“race is not biology but it matters”

A
  • racial categories are socially constructed but have real consequences
  • has health and social implications; social media, justification of practices towards certain groups

ex. health disparities among black women
- risk of pregnancy related death 3-4x higher
- black infants 2x likely to die
- trends remain among healthy, wealthy and educated black women

  • black americans are undertreated for pain
  • racial groups experience different health events differently

ANT203 (11 decks)

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