Biological Anthropology 13-15

Which of the following differentiate forensic anthropology from bioarchaeology?

a. Forensic anthropologists are osteology specialists, whereas bioarchaeologists are not.

b. Forensic anthropology looks at the archaeological context.

c. Forensic anthropology applies to legal and criminal investigations.

d. Forensic anthropology cases are older than bioarchaeology cases.

c. Forensic anthropology applies to legal and criminal investigations.

Part of the role of a forensic anthropologist is to determine the cause and manner of death.

True

False

False

All of the following are acclimatory adjustments to cold temperatures, EXCEPT...

increasing basal metabolic rate.

vasodilation.

maintaining heat near the core of the body.

vasodilation.

shivering.

vasodilation.

An example of ________ is when a warm body is surrounded by a cooler fluid (e.g. air or water) and heat is transferred from the warmer body to the cooler fluid.

evaporation

conduction

convection

radiation

conduction

The Inuit people of Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Denmark have a darker skin tone than would not be anticipated at that northern latitude. This darker skin tone likely reflects...

Incorrect answer:

their recent ancestry from people in southern regions.

their consumption of vitamin D-rich foods.

the low amount of UV light in the area.

that they are cold adapted.

their consumption of vitamin D-rich foods.

How do forensic anthropologists report the estimated height of an individual based on skeletal remains?

Incorrect answer:

as a single number (e.g. 5 feet, 4 inches)

as a stature range

they are not able to estimate

in terms of place in a life cycle

as a stature range

Which of the following is the best example of a pathology?

broken bone

Paget's disease of bone

sun bleaching

gunshot wounds

Paget's disease of bone

One easily visible example of a clinal distribution seen worldwide is the patterning of human variation in ________.

lactose tolerance.

skin color.

blood types.

sickle cell anemia.

skin color.

Most humans experience an increase in the ability to digest lactose as they age.

True

False

False

All of the following help distinguish human bone from nonhuman bone, EXCEPT...

the compact layer of nonhuman bone is very thick with little spongy bone visible.

distinguishing features of bone, like muscle attachments

the shape of human bone.

nonhuman bones are often larger than human bones.

nonhuman bones are often larger than human bones.

_________ in hot temperatures is when there is an expansion of the capillaries within the skin leading to a more effective transfer of heat from within the body to the exterior to occur.

Vasodilation

Vasoconstriction

Sickling of the red blood cells

Sweating

Vasoconstriction

All of the following are true, EXCEPT that melanin...

production is influenced by external (e.g. UV radiation exposure) factors.

production is influenced by inherited (genetic) factors.

is produced by cells called keratinocytes.

comes in two types, eumelanin and pheomelanin.

production is influenced by external (e.g. UV radiation exposure) factors.

One reason humans cannot be divided into discrete "races" is because...

most human traits vary on a continuous basis with no clear lines of demarcation.

humans are not able to accurately categorize other humans.

the term is problematic as it has been used to discriminate against some people and privilege others.

humans are more genetically diverse than most other closely related species.

most human traits vary on a continuous basis with no clear lines of demarcation.

Historically, malaria rates likely increased in areas where people began to clear the land and produce pools of water as part of swidden horticulture.

True

False

True

Methods available to forensic anthropologists to help identify individualizing traits for positive identifications include all of the following, EXCEPT...

identification of surgical implants.

comparative medical radiography.

hair color analysis.

comparative dental radiography.

hair color analysis.

Human variation varies on a clinal basis, as can be seen when looking at worldwide polymorphisms like...

attached and detached earlobes.

eye color.

tongue rolling.

ABO blood type.

ABO blood type.

Compared to many other species, humans as a whole are less homogeneous.

True

False

False

Sweating is an example of ________, which occurs when a liquid, such as the water within our bodies, is converted to a gas.

conduction

radiation

evaporation

convection

evaporation

Among the global human population, genetic distances are correlated with _______ .

intelligence.

intensity of UV radiation.

skin color

geographic distances.

geographic distances.

Genetic diversity is greater within-groups than between-groups.

True

False

True

_________ results from a vitamin D deficiency in childhood and is characterized by a wide variety of bone changes including deformities of the skull, bowing of the long bones, and a smaller, thicker pelvis.

Osteogenesis imperfecta

Rickets

Osteosarcoma

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)

Rickets

The idea developed by Ancient Greek philosophers that all objects, plants, animals, humans, and celestial bodies can be mapped in an overall hierarchy like a ladder is called...

the Great Chain of Being.

binomial nomenclature.

cladistics.

unilineal evolution.

the Great Chain of Being

All of the following are true, EXCEPT that melanin...

is produced by cells called keratinocytes.

comes in two types, eumelanin and pheomelanin.

production is influenced by external (e.g. UV radiation exposure) factors.

production is influenced by inherited (genetic) factors.

production is influenced by external (e.g. UV radiation exposure) factors.

Aristotle expressed the belief that certain people are inherently (or genetically) more instinctive rulers, while others are more natural fit for the life of a worker or slave.

True

False

True

Biological profiles and scene context narrow the list of _________ identifications, whereas traits unique to the individual can provide positive identifications.

negative

confirmative

biological

presumptive

presumptive

The study of what happens to skeletal remains after death is known as...

taphonomy.

forensic anthropology.

trauma.

pathology.

taphonomy

One easily visible example of a clinal distribution seen worldwide is the patterning of human variation in ________.

skin color.

blood types.

sickle cell anemia.

lactose tolerance.

skin color

Humans have significantly ____ genetic diversity than other primates and mammals around the world.

more

less

less

Sets of parallel grooves on bone may indicate...

weathering.

root etching.

rodent gnawing.

carnivore gnawing.

rodent gnawing

Due to the environmental stressors of cold-dry environments, individuals indigenous to such environments tend to have taller (longer) noses with a reduced nostril size.

True

False

True

Clues directly from the skeleton, like a tooth filling, may indicate whether human remains are archaeological or modern.

True

False

True

Human genetic diversity is highest in...

sub-Saharan Africa.

Southeast Asia.

North America.

Europe.

sub-Saharan Africa

All human beings on Earth share _____ of their overall DNA.

80%

50%

100%

99.9%

99.9%

Two neutral microevolutionary processes that may produce a cline in a human allele or trait are...

founder effect and gene flow.

sexual selection and natural selection.

mutations and Hardy-Weinberg processes.

gene flow and genetic drift.

gene flow and genetic drift

This type of melanogenesis occurs in response to ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure, specifically UV-B exposure, serving to protect the skin's innermost layer.

Gloger's

basal

activated

response

activated

How do forensic anthropologists report the estimated height of an individual based on skeletal remains?

in terms of place in a life cycle

they are not able to estimate height

as a single number (e.g. 5 feet, 4 inches)

as a stature range

as a stature range

The most commonly used method for estimating the age of adult skeletons looks at the degenerative changes of the...

teeth.

obturator foramen.

iIschiopubic ramus.

pubic symphysis.

public symphysis

This rule states that within the same species of mammals the more heavily pigmented individuals tend to be found near the equator, while lighter-pigmented members of the species will be found in regions further from the equator.

Bergmann's

Allen's

Gloger's

Meyers'

Gloger's

Responsibilities of a forensic anthropologist may include all of the following EXCEPT...

comparing before death and after death radiographs of bones.

identification of human remains.:

blood splatter analysis.

helping with outdoor search-and-recovery efforts.

blood spatter analysis

The inner layer of bone that has a porous or honeycomb-like structure is known as...

the periosteum.

the diaphysis.

spongy or trabecular bone.

compact or cortical bone.

Results for item 32.

spongy or trabecular bone

In contrast to adjustments, adaptations are all of the following EXCEPT...

a result of natural selection.

genetic.

affecting individuals, not whole populations.

permanent.

Results for item 33.

33

affecting individuals, not whole populations.

A biological profile is an individual's identifying characteristics and includes all of the following, EXCEPT...

time of death.

age.

ancestry.

sex.

time of death

People who are born and grow up in high-altitudes tend to exhibit all of the following traits relative to their low altitude counterparts, EXCEPT...

have an increased heart capacity.

be more efficient at diffusing oxygen from the bloodstream.

grow more quickly and physically mature earlier.

have an increased lung capacity.

grow more quickly and physically mature earlier.

This is maintaining normal functions in cells, tissues, and organs even in response to internal and external stressors.

persistence

homeostasis

plasticity

radiation

homeostasiss

All of the following are types of taphonomic processes EXCEPT...

scavenging by animals.

bleaching by the sun.

disease.

decomposition.

disease

he Ancient Egyptians believed there were four groups of people in the world:

the Aamu (Asiatics), the Nehesu (Nubians), the Reth (Egyptians), and the Themehu (Libyans).

white, black, red and yellow.

tall, short, stout and slender.

the Romanu (Romans), the Reth (Egyptians), the Nebu (Nubians) and the Themehu (North Africans).

the Aamu (Asiatics), the Nehesu (Nubians), the Reth (Egyptians), and the Themehu (Libyans).

Forensic anthropologists may be called to testify in a court of law and/or participate in criminal investigations involving human rights violations.

True

False

True

Naturalists like Comte de Buffon and Johann Blumenbach believed that...

the differences between people are a result of their desire to improve or stay the same.

humans are not closely related to any living animal species.

different groups of people had different origins.

differences in environment could lead to biological changes between different groups of people (i.e., races).

differences in environment could lead to biological changes between different groups of people (i.e., races).

Linnaeus believed that Europeans are "white" and regulated by...

belief.

habit.

instinct.

custom.

custom

The attempt to formalize the social scientific study of "fitness" and "superiority" among members of 19th-century Europe is known as...

physical anthropology.

race.

eugenics.

population genetics.

eugenics

Group differences involving variation in biology, physiology, body chemistry, behavior, and culture are known as...

genetic determinism.

human variation.

human homogeneity.

evolution or natural selection.

human variation

The immediate area in which human remains were found, including the soil, other organic matter, objects, or artifacts surrounding the remains, are regarded as the...

context.

array

burial.

environment.

context

In Naturalis Historia Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder categorized people into three categories:

citizens, paupers and slaves.

civilized peoples, barbarians, and monstrous individuals.

land owners, people of stature and peasants.

men, women and children.

Results for item 7.

civilized peoples, barbarians, and monstrous individuals

Naturalists like Comte de Buffon and Johann Blumenbach believed that...

humans are not closely related to any living animal species.

different groups of people had different origins.

the differences between people are a result of their desire to improve or stay the same.

differences in environment could lead to biological changes between different groups of people (i.e., races).

differences in environment could lead to biological changes between different groups of people (i.e., races).

Paul Broca claimed that internal skull capacities could be linked with skin color and cognitive ability.

True

False

True

In contrast to adjustments, adaptations are all of the following EXCEPT...

permanent.

genetic.

affecting individuals, not whole populations.

a result of natural selection.

affecting individuals, not whole populations.

Traits like ________ are the product of many millennia of natural selective pressures from the external environment influencing human biology.

tongue rolling and facial shape

cranial shape and dexterity

eye color and hair texture

skin color and lactase persistence

skin color and lactase persistence

When working with human remains it is important to...

avoid picking up a skull by placing fingers in the eye orbits or through the cheekbones.

(all answers are correct)

Both A and B are correct.

respect the individual whose skeleton you work with and their relatives.

handle bones over padded surfaces.

(all answers are correct )

All humans have approximately the same number of melanocytes within the epidermis.

True

False

True

Historically, malaria rates likely increased in areas where people began to clear the land and produce pools of water as part of swidden horticulture.

True

False

True

It is important for anthropologists to understand taphonomic processes in order to...

(all answers are correct)

understand environmental events that have occurred.

understand more about how the body was placed and treated.

estimate the relative amount of time that has passed.

(all answers are correct)

The Phenice method is the most common method used to assess...

Correct answer:

sex.

stature

age.

ancestry.

sex

The minimum estimate for the number of individuals that contributed to the sample is known as the...

number of grave plots (NGP).

minimum number of individuals (MNI).

number of assembled graves (NAG).

number of individuals present (NIP).

minimum number of individuals (MNI).

Average genetic heterogeneity decreases in populations ________ the African continent in accordance with the migratory history of anatomically modern Homo sapiens.

closer to

further away from

further away from

In order to estimate stature (height) anthropologists must have the complete skeleton.

True

False

False

The ends of bone that fuse to the shaft of the bone at the end of growth are the...

diaphyses.

medullary canals.

metaphyses.

epipheses.

epipheses

Analysis of the developmental stages of dentition is one of the most reliable aging methods.

True

False

True

Over time, individuals living in hot, arid environments will develop more sensitive forms of sweat glands resulting in the production of more sweat.

True

False

True

Rickets is characterized by inadequately calcified bones that are softer and more flexible than normal. Individuals with rickets may not have received enough ________ during their growth and development.

vitamin B

folate

iodine

vitamin D

vitamin D

__________ adjustments occur only in individuals who spent their childhood and adolescence in a particular environment under specific stressors.

Maturation

Developmental

Cultural

Acclimatory

Developmental

Biological profiles and scene context narrow the list of _________ identifications, whereas traits unique to the individual can provide positive identifications.

confirmative

presumptive

biological

negative

presumptive

The most commonly used method for estimating the age of adult skeletons looks at the degenerative changes of the...

iIschiopubic ramus

obturator foramen.

teeth

pubic symphysis.

pubic symphysis

The two parts of the skeleton that are most commonly used for sex estimation are the...

pelvis and clavicle.

skull and clavicle.

femur and skull

pelvis and skull.

pelvis and skull

When taken altogether, genetic analyses of human diversity_________ 20th-century concepts of race.

do not support

support

do not support

Most human traits are ____, meaning they vary and are inherited independently of each other.

concordant

multicordant

discordant

non-concordant

non-concordant