Race and Biological Classification

Practice flashcards for understanding race, biological classification, and associated concepts in anthropology.

Monogenism

The belief that all humans are derived from a single ancestral population.

Polygenism

The belief that different races have different ancestors.

Biological race

A major segment of a species, originally occupying a large, geographically distinct region.

Gene pool

The total genetic diversity found within a population.

Gene frequency

The measure of the relative frequency of an allele in a population.

Essentialist definition of race

A perspective that defines race based on fixed characteristics derived from common descent.

Natural population

A group of animals or plants of the same species that live in a specific area and reproduce within their group.

Heredity

The passing on of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Genetic distance

A measure of how genetically similar or different populations are.

Subspecies

A taxonomic category that ranks below species, usually a population segregated by geographical, morphological, or behavioral differences.

Nucleotide diversity

A measure of the variation in the nucleotide sequences within a population.

Bergmann's rule

A principle that states that individuals of larger size are found in colder environments, while smaller individuals are found in warmer regions.

Racial differences

Variations in physical characteristics among groups defined as races.

Anthropology

The study of humans, human behavior, and societies, both past and present.

Physical anthropology

A branch of anthropology concerned with humans as biological organisms.

Cultural anthropology

The study of cultural variation among humans.

Genetic markers

A specific locus on a chromosome that can be used to identify a particular population.

Race as a social construct

The concept that race is not a biological reality but a classification based on perceived physical differences.

Homo sapiens

The species name for modern humans.