Untitled Flashcards Set

Kinds of Biological Anthropology

• Robert Broom: An influential figure in biological anthropology known for his work on early hominins.

Evolution: Theory vs Fact

• Richard Leakey: Prominent paleoanthropologist who emphasized the distinction between evolutionary theory and empirical fact in his discussions.

Key Terms in Evolutionary Biology

• Olduvai Gorge: A significant archaeological site in Tanzania that has provided critical evidence of early human evolution.

• Chromosome "Lucy": Reference to the famous Australopithecus afarensis fossil named "Lucy", valuable for understanding human ancestry.

• Gene: A segment of DNA responsible for the inheritance of specific traits.

• Australopithecus afarensis: An early hominin species known for its bipedalism.

• Allele: Variants of a gene that determine specific traits.

• Homo habilis: Early human species known for tool use.

• Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism.

• Homo ergaster/erectus: Early human species noted for adaptations to diverse environments.

• Phenotype: The observable characteristics of an organism.

• Zhoukoudian site: A site in China important for the discovery of Homo erectus remains.

• Law of Independent Assortment: A principle of genetics stating genes for different traits are inherited independently.

• Recombination: The process during which chromosomes exchange genetic material.

• Natural Selection: The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

• Directional Selection: A type of natural selection that favors one extreme of a trait over the mean or other extreme.

• Genetic Drift: The change in the frequency of a gene variant in a population due to random sampling.

• Gene Flow: The transfer of genetic variation from one population to another.

• Punctuated Equilibrium: A theory that proposes that evolution occurs in rapid bursts separated by long periods of stability.

• Clines: Gradual changes in the phenotype and genotype of a species over geographic space.

• Skin Color: An adaptive feature that varies based on geographic location and environmental factors.

• Thomson’s Nose Rule: The correlation between nose shape and climate adaptation.

• Bergmann’s Rule/Allen’s Rule: Ecological principles that relate body size and shape to climate.

• Genes and Disease: The study of how genetics contribute to diseases.

• Importance of Collective Learning: A concept from studies showing humans’ unique ability to share and build on knowledge.

• Neanderthal Extinction Theories: Hypotheses explaining the disappearance of Neanderthals in relation to modern humans.

• Miocene/Pliocene/Pleistocene/Holocene: Geological epochs crucial for understanding human evolution.

• Taxonomy: The science of classification of organisms.

• Competition and Adaptation: The dynamic interactions of species as they adapt to their environment.

• Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features in different species.

• Raymond Dart: An anthropologist known for his discoveries in hominin evolution.

• Prosimians: A group of primates that includes lemurs and tarsiers.

• Hominid Dental Formula: The arrangement of teeth that distinguishes hominids from other primates.

• Monkeys vs Apes – Differences: Monkeys generally have tails and are different in size, behavior, and genetics compared to apes, which do not have tails.

• Bipedalism: The ability to walk on two legs, significant in the evolution of hominins.

• Behavioral Ecology: The study of the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior.

• Paleolithic/Mesolithic/Neolithic: Prehistoric periods marking the development of human culture and technology.

• Primatology: The study of nonhuman primates, their behavior, and their environments.

• Hominin vs Hominid: Hominins refer specifically to the human lineage after the split from apes, while hominids include all great apes and their ancestors.