Study Guide Questions Flashcards
What are the steps to protein synthesis?
Step 1
Copy of one side of DNA strand is made (mRNA)
Step 2
mRNA moves to cytoplasm, then ribosome
Step 3
mRNA goes through ribosome 3 bases at a time
Step 4 transfer RNA (tRNA) matches up with the open DNA bases
Step 5
tRNA releases the amino acid at the top, which joins the chain of amino acids being produced
How do the four forces of evolution affect allelic frequencies in populations?
- Mutation: operates at the molecular level
- Genetic drift and Gene Flow operate at the population level
- Natural Selection: operates at the phenotypic level
MYH16
The MYH16 gene encodes a protein called myosin heavy chain 16 which is a muscle protein in mammals. At least in primates, it is a specialized muscle protein found only in the temporalis and masseter muscles of the jaw.[1][2] Myosin heavy chain proteins are important in muscle contraction, and if they are missing, the muscles will be smaller. In non-human primates, MYH16 is functional and the animals have powerful jaw muscles. In humans, the MYH16 gene has a mutation which causes the protein not to function.
Decrease in masseter muscle size didn’t constrict or constrain skull as much, allowed us to grow bigger brains.
Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)
- SHH gene provides instructions for making a protein called Sonic Hedgehog. This protein functions as a chemical signal that is essential for embryonic development. Sonic Hedgehog plays a role in cell growth, cell specialization, and the normal shaping (patterning) of the body. This protein is important for development of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), eyes, limbs, and many other parts of the body.
- The gene that showed increased rates of protein expression in comparison to other primates
APOE (Apolipoprotein)
- Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a class of proteins involved in the metabolism of fats in the body.
- 3 different isoforms in different populations
- directs lipoprotein, fat, and energy through body (helps deliver energy)
FOXP2
-Accelerated ability to learn language
Forkhead box protein P2 (FOXP2) is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the FOXP2 gene, also known as CAGH44, SPCH1 or TNRC10, and is required for proper development of speech and language.
What is the concept of “life course” and how is it used to examine variation between human and nonhuman primates?
- Compares growth and development
- Compared to other primates and mammals, there are at least three distinctive characteristics of human life histories: (1) an exceptionally long life span, (2) an extended period of juvenile dependence, and (3) support of reproduction by older postreproductive individuals.
What morphological changes support our obligate bipedalism and why?
Hips: Larger hip joints. vertebral column is closer to hip joint (which increases balance and stability).
Larger knee joint, longer legs.
Foramen magnum located under the skull, not at the back of the skull.
Energy allocation and storage in humans – how is it different from other mammals?
- Compared to other mammals us humans allocate most of our energy for reproduction and support of brain complexity. This requires a more complex diet and nurturing of the young.
- Expensive tissue hypothesis
What are the three possibilities creating brain reorganization and what examples might be used in the study of evolution?
1) change in sizes of anatomical regions of
the brain
2) functional regions of the brain can shift
or change position (may or may not be associated with region expansion/contraction)
3) New behaviors may lead to new functional fields, supplant or enhancing previously existing functional associations
The language loop – what is it, what are its components, and how does each component affect speech capacity?
- This language loop is found in the left hemisphere in about 90% of right-handed persons and 70% of left-handed persons, language being one of the functions that is performed asymmetrically in the brain.
- language being one of the functions that is performed asymmetrically in the brain.
- Wernicke’s area – Comprehension
- Broa – production
- Arcuat Nucleus – axon that runs between the two.
What evidence in the fossil record do we have of these speech components?
Both a H habilis from Kenya and a H erectus skulls have shown a larger protrusion on left hemisphere indicating possible presence of a Broca’s area in that hemisphere. These asymmetries may indicate the development of spoken language OR ITS PRECURSORS in species ancestral to modern Homo sapiens
Such claims can be made through use of ENDOCASTS -
How do structural changes affect the soft tissue function in speaking, breathing, and swallowing?
The larynx is located lower in humans than in mammals due to a change of location of the foramen magnum. This leads to expansion of pharynx, or the cavity above larynx. This expansion, as well as a rounder and thicker tongue, leads to a greater ability to make a variety of sounds and thus speech. With this comes an increased risk of choking.
Neanderthals and us: how are we similar? How are we different? What hypotheses are suggested as to the demise of their species - (if they were a separate species)
- Similarities: Neanderthals are the closest not-fully-human cousin to Homo sapiens. There were cultural similarities within kinship and how they buried their dead; as well as their artistic expression, full use of language, and human emotions. Used tools
- Differences: Larger brain size, larger body size, cranium is larger and longer, occipital bone is bun-shaped, forehead rises more vertically, brow ridges arch over eye orbits, face points out, barrel-chested, powerfully muscular, shorter limbs.
- Romeo and Human Juliet Hypothesis: Studies have shown though that modern humans share a common male ancestor who lived 59,000 years ago. Could this male ancestor have been Neanderthal? Indeed, the date of our closest common male ancestor correlates well with estimations of gene flow between Neanderthals and humans around 50,000 to 80,000 years ago.
- Neandertal hunting characteristics show that there were significant injuries and trauma inflicted upon them while using spears and causing more deaths, whereas homo sapiens began to develop hunting tools such as the bow and arrow to create space between them and their prey while hunting
What cultural traits do we now attribute to the Neanderthal?
Purposeful burials, religion, artistic expression, language complexity, kinship
