Untitled Flashcards Set

Holism

The study of humans in all aspects (biological, social, cultural).

Comparison

Comparing different societies and species.

Dynamism

Change over time.

Fieldwork

Direct observation of people or environments.

Six steps to humanness

Key traits defining humanity: bipedalism, nonhoning chewing, tools, speech, hunting, and domesticated foods.

Social learning

Learning from others in society.

Empiricism

Knowledge comes from sensory experience.

Scientific method

A process involving observation, hypothesis, testing, and revision.

Theory vs. Law

A theory explains why things happen; a law describes what happens.

Great chain of being

Hierarchical view of life from simplest to most complex.

Judeo-Christian young earth

Belief in Earth’s creation in 6 days.

Al-Jahiz, Ibn al-Haytham, European enlightenment

Early ideas influencing evolutionary thought.

Western evolutionary thought

Scientific method, taxonomy, and the development of evolutionary ideas.

Geology, 'deep time'

Understanding Earth's vast history.

Lamarckian traits

Traits acquired during life, passed down.

Malthus' carrying capacity

Population growth limited by resources.

Darwin's theory

Natural selection drives evolution.

Essential molecules

Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids form life.

Cells

Basic unit of life (e.g., mitochondria, nucleus).

Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

Types of cells—simple vs. complex.

DNA

Carries genetic information.

Gene and genomics

Units of heredity; study of genomes.

Human genome project

Mapping human genes.

Chromosomes

Structures carrying genes.

Mitosis and meiosis

Cell division for growth and reproduction.

Protein synthesis

Creation of proteins from DNA instructions.

Mendelian genetics

Laws of inheritance.

Polygenic traits

Traits influenced by multiple genes.

Microevolution vs. macroevolution

Small changes vs. large evolutionary changes.

Gene pool

Total genetic material in a population.

Forces of evolution

Mutation, genetic drift, selection, etc.

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium

Ideal conditions for genetic stability.

Speciation

The formation of new species through various mechanisms.

Adaptive radiation

Rapid evolution of many species from a common ancestor.

Shared characteristics

Traits common to all primates (e.g., grasping hands).

Primate taxonomy

Classification of primates into groups (e.g., lemurs, monkeys, apes).

Locomotion

Different ways primates move, e.g., bipedalism, brachiation.

Dietary plasticity

Ability to adapt diet based on environment.

Parental investment

Care for fewer offspring with greater investment.

Primatology

Study of primate behavior.

Social systems

Ways primates organize socially (e.g., solitary, group living).

Mating systems

Patterns of reproduction (e.g., polygyny, monogamy).

Communication

How primates communicate (vocal, visual, etc.).

Conservation

Efforts to protect endangered primates.

Paleontology

Study of ancient life through fossils.

Strata

Layers of rock where fossils are found.

Fossilization

Process of turning organisms into fossils.

Dating methods

Techniques to determine the age of fossils (radiometric, relative dating).

Chronometric dating

Methods to date fossils precisely.

Environmental reconstruction

Using fossils to understand past environments.

Primate origin hypotheses

Theories about the origins of primates.

Diffuse coevolution

Co-evolution of primates and their environment.