Roots of Biology - MT1 Flashcards
What did hunter-gather people need a working knowledge of? (2)
- Animal biology
2. Plant diversity and uses
What are 3 traits of animal biology?
- Habits of the animals
- seasonal migration patterns and behaviour when they are attacked - Internal anatomy
- How best to kill them
What are 5 traits of plant diversity and uses?
- Plants as food
- some plants are toxic - Plants as medicine
- bone marrow = good nutrients - Plants as weapons
- Plants as tools
- Plants as construction materials
What did it mean by domestication of plants and animals?
That their reproduction fell under the control of people
What did domestication of plants and animals lead to?
Artificial selection
Artificial selection
The breeding of plants and animals to produce desirable traits
- deliberate, selective, breeding for altered characteristics
- altering plants and animals behaviour, controlling reproduction
What did domesticated plants probably get aroused by?
Both unintentional and intentional selection
What are 4 traits that were selected during plant domestication?
- Seed size
- Seed release
- Yield
- Self pollinate
What does increase in seed size mean?
Domestication
- decrease = wild
What can/cant wheat and corn do? (2)
- Self pollinate
2. Cant disperse their seeds
What plant can disperse its seeds?
Teosint
What is used as a marker?
Inherited variability
What type of crop has a higher yield? And why?
Modern crops, because of the increase in technology for agriculture
What do horse-chestnuts need to overcome seed dormancy so they can germinate?
A prolonged cold treatment
Why cant we eat wild almonds?
Because before domestication they had cyanide in them
What did agriculture, the domestication of wild plants and the production of new varieties of plants require?
Much biological knowledge
- fertilization
- plant sexuality (asexual vs sexual)
- plant irrigation (planting time vs harvesting time)
What did the domestication of animals involve?
Keeping the animals alive rather than killing them
What kind of knowledge did the domestication of animals involve? (4)
- Nutrition
- Breeding
- Behaviour
- Disease
What animal was the first to be domesticated?
Dog
What are 4 subdivisions of medicine in early civilization?
- Pharmacology
- use of drugs - Surgery
- Magic
- Religion
What were physicians in Egypt?
They were among the elite and were organized into a hierarchy
- from chief physician to bandager
What were the years of Imhotep?
c. 2700-2600 BC
What was Imhotep?
Architect
- polymath
Polymath
Someone who makes contributions to many different fields
When was Imhotep worshiped?
After he was dead
What was Imhotep worshiped as?
God of medicine and healing
- in Egypt and Greece
Who is the God of medicine?
Asclepius
What was Imhotep being considered the architect for? And where?
The step pyramids built at the Necropolis of Saqqarah in the city of Memphis
What is the worlds oldest medial treatise?
The Edwin Smith Papyrus
What do the contents of the Edwin Smith Papyrus discuss?
The diagnosis and treatment of traumatic military injuries
- shows some knowledge of anatomy and speculates about physiology
- field manual for traumatic surgeries
What does the Edwin Smith Papyrus contain very little of?
Magic
What did Egyptians think blood was?
The breath of life
What did the Egyptians think you would die without?
Blood
- religious significance
- genetic association
What are 8 things honey can do?
- Rapid healing on cuts and wounds
- Preventing eczema
- Preventing acne
- Heals burns, skin ulcers and inflammation
- Heals bed sores
- Increases cell renewal
- Prevents psoriasis
- Lessens wrinkles and fine lines
How long did they think honey could live for?
Forever
What was the common practice with patients?
To tell them they were worse off than they actually were, so that if something went wrong they were prepared and if they were cured then they came out looking like hero’s
What did the Ebers Papyrus contain? (2)
- Practical advice
2. Magic
How many drugs/formulas were given on the Ebers Papyrus?
700
What was the most important medical texts in ancient China?
The Yellow Emperors Inner Canon
What concepts are in the Yellow Emperors Inner Canon? (2)
- Illness is a result of natural causes, not demons
2. Illness can result from the distribution of Chi
Chi
Is a vital energy that travels through the body along defined pathways called meridians
What is the downside of Chi?
It cannot be measured or detected
- this is why it is not considered in modern medicine
What is the human body a reflection of?
The outside world
What is one way you can study the body?
By its surroundings
- and vice versa
- has to do with Chinese medicine
What are the yin principles? (6)
- Negative
- Cold
- Dark
- Empty
- Earthly
- Feminine
What are the yang principles? (6)
- Positive
- Warm
- Bright
- Fully
- Heavenly
- Masculin
What do you need in life in order to live?
Equilibrium
- balance
Cosm
Human body is interconnected and related to the world
What are the 5 microcosm/macrocosm correspondence phases (or elements)?
- Wood
- Fire
- Earth
- Metal
- Water
What are the 5 Chinese elements?
- Fire
- Mars
- Creativity
- Happiness
- Heart and small intestines
What does the Chinese element fire correspond to?
Specific plants (mars)
What does the Chinese element Mars correspond to?
Emotion (creativity)
What does the Chinese element creativity correspond to?
Emotion quality
What does the Chinese element happiness correspond to?
Emotional quality
What kind of organs are the heart and small intestines?
Fire organs
What times of the day are most beneficial for treatment?
11am-3pm
What did the early cities of Egypt and Mesopotamia both have? (2)
- Botanical gardens
- Zoos
- meant for wealthy people (menagerie vs zoo)
What did the persian formal garden plan consist of?
4 equal sections separated by canals and surrounded by high walls
- paradise
