Anth104 Exam 1 (Chapters 1-4)

Anthropology

Study of humankind, viewed from the perspective of all people and all times

4 Subfields of Anthropology

Cultural, Linguistic, Archaeology, and Biological

Cultural Anthropology

Study of human societies in a cross-cultural perspective, learn about different cultures by living with the people they study

Linguistic Anthropology

Study of the form/function/social context of language, may also study the evolution languages & language capacity

Archaeology

Study of how people used to live based on material remains, study the history of material culture

Biological Anthropology

Study of human biological evolution and biocultural variation

5 Subfields of Biological Anthropology

Primatology, Skeletal Biology & Osteology, Paleoanthropology, Paleopathology/Bioarcheology, Forensic Anthropology

Primatology

Studies of non-human primates and their anatomy, genetics, behavior, and ecology

Paleoanthropology

Studying physical remains of fossil hominins, study bones and teeth of our fossil ancestors and relatives to provide some evidence for evolution

Skeletal Biology and Osteology

Study of the skeleton, uses knowledge and patterns of human growth/development in studies of human skeleton from an evolutionary perspective (measure bones/teeth)

Paleopathology/Bioarcheology

Study of disease in ancient human populations from examination of skeleton evidence

Forensic Anthropology

Study of contemporary (present) human skeletal remains, usually work in conjunction with police to identify dead individuals

6 Steps of Humanness (in order)

Bipedalism, loss of honing canine teeth, material culture and tools, speech, hunting, domestication

Evolution

Any change in the heritable traits within a population across generations, over time

Science

A question-driven, evidence-based understanding of the natural world. A self-correcting process

Steps of Scientific Method

Observation, (research), hypothesis, prediction (if, then), test, (collect data), support or reject hypothesis, publish results

Requirements for a Scientific Hypothesis

Needs to be testable/falsifiable (and have clear variables)

Natural Selection

Biological characteristics that enhance survival/reproduction will increase in frequency from generation to generation

Natural Selection Postulates

1) There is a struggle for existence, 2) There is variation in features related to survival/reproduction, 3) Variation is passed from generation to generation

Taxonomy

Linnaeus, classification of past and living life forms, binomial nomenclature (2 level genus/species name - homo sapien)

Theory of Acquired Characteristics

Lamarck, in response to new demands or needs, life-forms develop new anatomical modifications from offspring’s parents (later found to be incorrect - no inheritance of acquired traits)

Uniformitarianism

Hutton and Lyell, used Geology to prove that the Earth was older than the Bible said & the Earth’s surface changed over time, geological processes today are the same as in the past

Darwin

Went on voyage and collected data, found variation in species - natural selection, published on the origin of species after Wallace confirmed n.s. theory

Disciplines Darwin Drew From:

Geology, Paleontology, Taxonomy/Systematics, Demography

On the Origin of Species

Darwin’s book with evidence for natural selection, introduced new ideas for natural selection, common descent, adaptation, and resource limits

Nucleus

Organelle that contains a cell’s genetic information

Mitochondria

Organelle that contains some DNA, uses oxygen to turn food molecules into ATP to power cell/tissues, mtDNA from mom (matriline)

Cell Membrane

Organelle that separates cells from other cells, the wall of the cell that encloses nucleus and cytoplasm (and other organelles)

Ribosome

Organelle that aids in the creation of proteins / amino acid chains

Cytoplasm

Part of cell that encases/surrounds other organelles

Somatic Cells

Body cells, compose tissues (bone, muscle, skin, fat, hair, etc), has nuclear DNA that is the same in every somatic cell, have 46 chromosomes in homologous (matching) pairs

Gametes

Sex cells, sperm in males and eggs/ova in females, have 23 (half) chromosomes, no gamete cell is the exact same

Prokaryote

Single-celled organisms with no internal compartments, first life on Earth, no nucleus or organelles (just cell wall, cytoplasm, ribosomes, and flagellum to get around)

Eukaryotes

Organisms with internal compartments separated by membranes, single to multicellular, DNA contained in nucleus, more complex functions

Nuclear DNA

Homoplasmic (the same DNA in every single somatic cell in an organism)

2 Steps of Protein Synthesis (and where they take place)

Transcription (nucleus) and Translation (ribosome/cytoplasm)

Transcription

Double strand of parental DNA unzips by enzymes, one portion of one strand used, RNA is produced (with U instead of T), mRNA splits from DNA template and exits nucleus

Translation

mRNA attaches to ribosomes, tRNA brings anticodons to compliment mRNA bases, builds amino acid sequence to make protein - mRNA translated to protein / a.a. chain

mRNA

Messenger RNA, made in nucleus and read in ribosome to make proteins in Protein Synthesis

tRNA

Transfer RNA, carries anticodons to build the amino acid / protein sequence during Protein Synthesis

Allele

Different variants/form/subunits of genes, 2 per gene, one provided by mom & the other by dad, dominant or recessive - variation of a trait

Chromosome

Package for tightly coiled DNA, 46 total in humans

Protein

Major structural components of tissues, consists of amino acids, coded for by DNA, can be structural or regulatory in the body, made during Protein Synthesis - what we are made of

Gene

Part of DNA that contains the information for 1 trait/protein, the basic unit of heredity

Genome

Complete set of genes/chromosomes/DNA

Autosomes

Non-sex chromosomes, 44 in humans (22 pairs)

Sex Chromosomes

The chromosomes that determine biological sex (XX - female, XY - male), 2 chromosomes (1 pair)

Karyotype

Complete set of chromosomes (includes all autosomes and the 1 pair of sex chromosomes)

Mitosis Definition

A diploid (46 chromosome) / somatic (body) cell produces an identical copy of itself, DNA and cell replication process

Mitosis Steps

PMAT - Interphase) all 46 chromosomes duplicated, Prophase) chromosomes condense in nucleus, Metaphase) “middle” where chromosomes line up in middle of cell, Anaphase) “away” where chromosomes move to opposite sides of cell, Telophase) nuclei form on both sides of cell around chromosomes, Cytokinesis) splits cytoplasm in half to create 2 identical cells

Meiosis Definition

Cell division / replication process for gametes, results in 4 non-identical daughter cells with random chromosomes from mother and father after 2 cell divisions

Meiosis Steps

PMATx2 - Prophase 1) chromosomes condense & line up with homologous pairs & crossing over, Metaphase 1) chromosomes in middle in pairs, Anaphase 1) chromosomes pulled away, Telophase 1) two newly formed nuclei, Prophase 2) spindles line up but no crossing over, Metaphase 2) chromosomes line up single file, Anaphase 2) chromaTIDS get pulled apart, Telophase 2) two nuclei form (so now there are 4 cells)

Crossing Over

During meiosis, when chromosomes are in pairs in Prophase 1, some chromosomes (mom+dad’s) transfer genetic info & exchange with each other, makes recombinant chromosomes and helps with sibling variety

Recombination

Results from crossing-over of homologous chromosomes, the gene variants resulting from crossing-over, more likely when the affected genes aren’t on the same chromosome

Diploid Cells

Cells with 46 chromosomes (all genetic info), somatic/body cells, cells that do mitosis

Haploid Cells

Cells with 23 chromosomes (half of genetic info), gametes that do meiosis, chromosomes aren’t in pairs

Number of Chromosomes in Human Body

46

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Miniature with only 37 genes, heteroplasmic (differ in different parts of body), usually just inherited from mom (matriline), egg cells are packed with mtDNA (sperm cells have little)

Blending Inheritance

Theory that each body part has invisible particles called gemmules, mom/dad’s gemmules combine to create offspring characteristics (50/50 of both parents). Proven false by Mendel

Demography

Study of populations, Malthus discovered that humans aren’t infinite population because of limited resources

Mendel

Proved there was no blending inheritance, discovered laws of inheritance & genes & mendelian inheritance (punnett squares)

DNA

Blueprint of life, has double-helix structure, made of sugar/phosphate/nitrogen base (A-T, C-G)