ANT-1 CH 1

Essentials of Biological Anthropology, Fifth Edition - CH1 Flashcards

Anatomical

Pertaining to an organism’s physical structure (p. 17)

Anthropology

The study of humankind, viewed from the perspective of all people and all times (p. 6)

Arboreal

Tree-dwelling, adapted to living in the trees. (p. 17)

Archaeology

The study of historic or prehistoric human populations through the analysis of material remains. (p. 6)

Artifacts

Material objects from past cultures. (p. 6)

Biocultural Approach

The scientific study of the interrelationship between what humans have inherited genetically and culturally. (p. 7)

Biological Anthropology

The study of the evolution, variation, and adaptation of humans and their past and present relatives; sometimes called physical anthropology. (p. 6)

Bipedalism

Walking on two feet. (p. 11)

Cultural Anthropology

The study of modern human societies through the analysis of the origins, evolution, and variation of culture. (p. 6)

Culture

Learned behavior that is transmitted from person to person. (p. 6)

Data

Evidence gathered to help answer questions, solve problems, and fill gaps in scientific knowledge. (p. 16)

Empirical

Verified through observation and experiment. (p. 16)

Evolvability

The capacity to evolve. (p. 16)

Forensic Anthropology

The branch of biological anthropology pertaining to the recovery, analysis, and identification of human remains. (p. 9)

Genome

The complete set of genetic information -- chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA -- for an organism or species that represents all of the inheritable traits. (p. 7)

Hominins

Humans and humanlike ancestors. (p. 7)

Hypotheses

Testable statements that potentially explain specific phenomena observed in the natural world. (p. 16)

Language

A set of written or spoken symbols used by humans to refer to things (people, places, concepts, etc.) other than themselves. (p. 6)

Linguistic Anthropology

The study of the construction, use, and form of language in human populations. (p. 6)

Material Culture

The part of culture that is expressed as material objects that humans use to manipulate environments.

Morphology

Physical shape and appearance. (p. 18)

Non-honing Canine

An upper canine tooth that, as part of a nonhoning chewing mechanism, is not sharpened against the lower third premolar. (p. 11)

Physical Anthropology

The original term for biological anthropology. (p. 6)

Primates

A group of mammals in the order Primates that have complex behavior, varied forms of locomotion, and a unique suite of traits, including large brains, forward-facing eyes, fingernails, and reduced snouts. (p. 9)

Scientific Law

A statement of fact describing natural phenomena. (p. 18)

Scientific Method

An empirical research method in which data are gathered from observations of natural phenomena, hypotheses are formulated and tested, and conclusions are drawn that validate or modify the original hypotheses. (p. 16)

Social Learning

The capacity to learn from other humans, enabling the accumulation of knowledge across many generations.

Sociolinguistics

The science of investigating language's social contexts. (p. 6)

Terrestrial

Life-forms, including humans, that live on land versus living in water or in trees.