Unit 2
Biological Anthropology seeks to understand the role of biology in understanding human culture
Biological anthropologists seek to answer two sets of questions: The first deal with where humans (Homo sapiens) come from (human paleontology).
The second set of questions deals with how and why contemporary human populations differ biologically ( human variation)
Carlos Linnaeus Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Linnaeus placed humans, apes, and monkeys in the same order (primates).
Charles Darwin developed the theory of Natural Selection. Natural selection is a process that increases the frequency of adaptive traits thought time.
Darwin rejected the theory that species were created in one fixed form. He believed natural selection influenced evolution.
Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859.
Natural selection increases adaptive traits relative to the environment Adaptive traits are those that increase an organisms chances of survival.
What is adaptive in one environment is maladaptive in another (i.e. gills).
Evolution and natural selection act on populations not individual animals.
Three things are needed for natural selection to take place: 1. Variation 2. Heritability 3. Differential reproductive success
Gregor Mendel
Mendel identified that some traits are dominant and others are recessive.
Genotype- an organism’s genetic make up Phenotype – an organism's physical appearance
What are your thoughts about the following museum in Kentucky? (4 Lines)
The allele of a gene pair that is always expressed is Dominant Adaptation can occur culturally or biologically
One issue that was never in doubt at the Scopes Trial was the theory of Evolution
Genes are the chemical unit of heredity. Genes are contained inside Chromosomes.
Chromosomes are paired rod- shaped structures within a cell’s nucleus. Humans have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
What do you think would happen if your DNA randomly changed?
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule in the genes that directs an organism’s make up.
The bases that compose DNA always occur in the same pairs: Adenine with Thymine Guanine and Cytosine Adenine and Uracil (in RNA)
Mitosis – cell reproduction Meiosis – sex cell reproduction
Mutation – a change in the DNA sequence that produces an altered gene.
Sources of Variability
Genetic Recombination- the varied distribution of traits from parent to child
Genetic drift – the various random process that affect gene frequencies in small isolated populations.
Gene flow – the process by which genes pass from one population to another
A species can reproduce viable offspring. Speciation is the development of new species
Sociobiology – interested in social behavior. Behavioral ecology – interested in how behavior is related to the environment. Evolutionary psychology – interested in how evolution influenced human behavior.
Type 3- State the cases for and against evolution using your notes in class. (10 Sentences)