Week 3 - Primatology Flashcards
What is primatology?
The study of non-human primates (fossil and living apes, monkeys, and prosimians) including their behavior and social life.
What are some characteristics of primates?
Grasping, Smell to sight, nose to hand, brain complexity, parental investment, sociality.
What are two important questions about primates?
Is culture uniquely human?
Which common ancestor?
What is Genetic evolution?
Change in the frequency of alleles in a breeding population from generation to generation
What is natural selection?
The process by which the forms most fit to survive and reproduce in a given environment do so in greater numbers than others in the same population.
What is mutation?
Change in the sequence of your DNA.
What is random genetic drift?
Change in the frequency of an existing gene variant (allele) in a population due to random chance.
What is gene flow?
any movement of individuals or the genetic material they carry from one population to the other. (example would be pollen being carried to new destinations or people relocating to a different city)
What is homo sapiens sapiens?
Humans
What is taxonomy?
The assignment (grouping) of organisms to categories according to their relationship and resemblance.
What is primate?
A group of mammals including monkeys and humans.
What is the fundamental difference between humans and other animals? (especially great apes)
physical attributes
cognitive abilities
social behavior.
The question of whether the difference is a matter of degree or kind (great apes)
Changes in degree area quantitative
Changes in kind are qualitative
What are the mechanisms of genetic evolution?
Natural selection
Mutation
Random genetic drift
Gene flow
What is Mendelian genetics and the basic principals of evolution?
the principles of heredity formulated by Austrian-born botanist, teacher, and Augustinian prelate Gregor Mendel in 1865. These principles compose what is known as the system of particulate inheritance by units, or genes. The later discovery of chromosomes as the carriers of genetic units supported Mendel’s two basic laws, known as the law of segregation and the law of independent assortment.
