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.