anthropology midterm pt 2

What is the Eternal Triangle (Paul Baker)?

The interaction between genotype phenotype and culture in shaping human biological variation

Why is describing human variation preferred over classifying it?

Because human variation is continuous overlapping and not divided into discrete races

What are the primate foundations of developmental plasticity?

Long growth periods high parental investment and flexible responses to environment

What is the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)?

The idea that early life environments affect health outcomes later in life

What is biological programming (Barker Hypothesis)?

Environmental conditions during fetal development permanently shape physiology and disease risk

What are HOX genes?

Regulatory genes that control body patterning and development

What is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)?

Maternally inherited DNA useful for tracing ancestry and population history

What are classic genetic markers?

Protein polymorphisms used to study genetic variation

What is non-coding DNA?

DNA that does not code for proteins but regulates gene expression

What is HAR1?

A human accelerated region associated with brain development

What is FOXP2?

A gene linked to speech and language ability

What does mapping the human genome mean?

Identifying the location and function of genes across chromosomes

What does recent human origins refer to?

The emergence of anatomically modern humans in Africa about 200000 years ago

Why is genetic diversity highest in Africa?

Because African populations are older and closer to human origins

What is thermoregulation?

The process of maintaining internal body temperature

What is the difference between core and shell temperature?

Core refers to vital organs while shell refers to skin and extremities

How did humans adapt historically to heat stress?

Through hair loss increased sweating and changes in body proportions

What are hot dry cultural adaptations?

Loose clothing shade use activity timing and water conservation

What are hot dry biological adaptations?

Tall lean bodies that dissipate heat efficiently

What are warm humid physiological adaptations?

Efficient sweating and heat tolerance

What is acclimatization?

Short term physiological adjustment to environmental stress

How do native and non native heat responses differ?

Natives show more efficient sweating and cardiovascular responses

What are the main challenges of cold environments?

Heat loss frostbite and maintaining metabolism

What is cold buffering?

Cultural strategies such as clothing shelter and fire use

What is countercurrent heat exchange?

Heat transfer between adjacent blood vessels to conserve heat

What is cold induced vasodilation (CIVD)?

Periodic increased blood flow to extremities to prevent tissue damage

What is non shivering thermogenesis?

Heat production by brown adipose tissue without muscle contractions

Why do cold adapted populations have elevated BMR?

To increase internal heat production

What is hypobaric hypoxia?

Reduced oxygen availability due to low air pressure at high altitude

What is oxygen saturation?

The percentage of hemoglobin carrying oxygen

What is acute mountain sickness?

Short term illness caused by rapid ascent to high altitude

What is chronic mountain sickness?

Long term maladaptation involving excessive red blood cell production

What is the erythropoietic response?

Increased red blood cell production in response to low oxygen

How do Andean and Himalayan adaptations differ?

Andeans increase hemoglobin while Tibetans improve oxygen efficiency

Why is skin color a poor trait for racial classification?

Because it varies clinally and reflects environmental adaptation

What is Glogers Rule?

Darker pigmentation occurs in warmer more humid environments

What is melanin?

A pigment that protects the skin from UV radiation

What are advantages of dark skin?

Protection against UV damage and folate depletion

What are advantages of light skin?

Increased vitamin D synthesis in low UV environments

What is the Inuit anomaly?

Darker skin in low UV regions due to vitamin D rich diets

What is tanning?

Increased melanin production in response to UV exposure

What happened to skin color in early hominins?

Skin darkened as body hair decreased and sweat glands increased