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Anth1
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150
Anthropology
Undergraduate 3
09/18/2009

Additional Anthropology Flashcards

 


 

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Term
What are the four sub disciplines of anthropology?
Definition
Cultural, Archaeology, Linguistic, and Physical
Term
What does cultural anthropology attempt to explain?
Definition
Explain modern cultural diversity, ethnography, ethnology
Term
What does Archaeology attempt to explain?
Definition
Study of material remains to understand past cultures
Term
What does linguistic anthropology attempt to explain?
Definition
Study of human languages, relationships between speech and culture
Term
What does physical anthropology attempt to explain?
Definition
Evolution and biocultural variation of humans and our living and past relatives
Term
What is anthropology?
Definition
Study of humankind in all places at all times
Term
What does the "holistic" approach refer to when it refers to anthropology?
Definition
Studying the whole of a what it means to be human, taking into account all aspects of our existence
Term
What does the "biocultural" approach refer to when speaking about anthropology?
Definition
The idea being that every person is a product of both their biology and their culture and so we should study them both.
Term
Name 3 steps of scientific method?
Definition
1. Hypothesis
2. Gather repeatable data to test hypothesis
3. Reject/falsify, fail to reject, or partially fit hypothesis
Term
What is a paradigm and how does it affect scientific inquiry?
Definition
A paradigm is a preconceived notion about how the world works. It affects scientific inquiry as it often determines what is worth examining
Term
What is typological thinking?
Definition
Highly categorical way of thinking where all manner of beasts were organized into different species and never changed.
Term
Evolution was a paradigm shift because...?
Definition
typological thinking was the paradigm, evolution gave rise to a way of thinking that promoted change and blurred the lines between species.
Term
What was the paradigm during the 17th and 18th century and how would it impact evolutionary thinking?
Definition
All organisms were unchanging and ordered, which was a mindset that stood starkly against evolution. It created a lot of opposition to the idea of evolution.
Term
Whose work did Darwin draw on for his theory of Natural Selection?
Definition
Thomas Malthus...?more?
Term
What are the three tenets of Darwin’s theory of natural selection and how do they fit together to contribute to change over time?
Definition
1.Struggle for existence
2.Populations are naturally variable
3.Some variation is heritable

Explain how the work together
Term
What parts of Darwin's theory was incomplete?
Definition
Laws of inheritance are for most part unknown? where does variation come from? how is variation maintained?
Term
Describe how alleles are expressed in a simple dominant-recessive system?
Definition
Dominant alleles are always prevalent when mixed with recessive alleles. Recessive alleles only appear where dominant are non existent
Term
Difference between genotype and phenotype?
Definition
Genotype:combo of alleles an individual carries
Phenotype:physical expression of genotype
Term
Describe the basic structure of DNA
Definition
Deoxyribonucleic acid. Double helix ladder shape. Legs of ladder made up of sugar and phosphate, rungs are nitrogen based. Bases are made up of adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. A/T go together and C/G go together.
Term
Describe the general process of DNA replication
Definition
Step 1. DNA unzips
Step 2. Complementary bases match up
Result: Two DNA strands
Term
What are the main differences between mitosis and meiosis?
Definition
Mitosis is cell replication for somatic cells. Meiosis is cell replication of gamete(sex) cells.
Term
Describe the relationship between DNA, amino acids, and proteins
Definition
DNA is the recipe for making proteins, proteins are made up of amino acids.
Term
What are the differences between and structural proteins and genes on the one hand, and regulatory proteins and genes on the other?
Definition
Structural genes: responsible for physical characteristics

Regulatory genes: turns genes on and off
Term
Describe the general process of protein synthesis (Transcription and Translation)
Definition
Transcription
DNA segment (gene) “unzips”
•RNA bases attach to DNA bases
•Uracil (U)instead of thymine (T)
•U goes with A

Translation
1.Codons attract anticodonsfrom tRNA
2.tRNA leaves its amino acid
3.Amino acids bound togetherProtein synthesis: translationInstructions
Term
What are Hox genes and why are they so important?
Definition
Homeotic genes guide development of an organisms body
Term
How much of the human genome actually codes for proteins?
Definition
Of 3 billion bases only about 2-5% of genome is coding
Term
In terms of genetics what is evolution?
Definition
The variation of gene frequencies over time.
Term
Why is the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium equation important?
Definition
Measures allele frequency in a non evolving population. Indicates what a non evolving populations looks like
Term
Where does variation in organisms ultimately come from?
Definition
Mutations
Term
Why is it that only mutations in the gametes are evolutionarily significant?
Definition
The gametes are the sex cells so mutations there are the ones that will be passed on to youth.
Term
Explain how each of the forces of evolution (natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation) can change gene frequencies over time
Definition
Natural Selection: Advantageous traits (alleles) allow an organism to survive longer and reproduce, increasing the fequency of the allele in the population.

Mutation: Positive mutations better enable a being to survive longer and reproduce more, negative mutations inhibit a beings ability to reproduce and so are selected out.

Genetic drift: simple bad luck catastrophes can eliminate strains of alleles in a population

Gene flow: Interbreeding between organisms can result in altered gene frequencies in the population.
Term
Why would natural selection vary by environment?
Definition
The traits being selected for are dependent on the nature of the environment
Term
What is the relationship between genetic drift and population size?
Definition
Genetic drift is genetic change due to chance. If a meteor wipes out half a population and most are one type of genotype, all of a sudden another genotype would become more prevalent.
Term
What is the biological species concept?Ecological?Morphological?
Definition
Bio:Naturally interbreeding group, reproductively isolated from other groups

Eco: Natural Selection maintains species boundaries

Morph: Distinctive appearance, physical characteristics, evolutionary ID
Term
What is the difference between sympatric, parapatric, and allopatric speciation? How are they similar?
Definition
Sympatric: Selection favors different adaptations to a single environ

Allopatric: Geographic speciation followed by genetic divergence

Parapatric: Different alleles favored in different areas of species distribution
Term
What is the difference between gradualism and punctuated equilibrium, and what does each model predict for the fossil record?
Definition
Gradualism: Changes occur at a slow steady rate. Natural selection working on large portion of population

Punctuation: Little or no change followed by rapid change. Small portion of population
Term
Why is preservation an issue with understanding the mode and tempo of evolution?
Definition
Two fossils of similar species may be found. One is the ancestor species while the other is a distinct but obviously related successor species. Was it a sudden evolution from one to the other? or were the in between stages simply not preserved?
Term
From a biological standpoint, why is “race” an invalid concept among humans?
Definition
There is little difference genetically speaking between one "race" and another.
Term
What is the difference between growth & development?
Definition
growth:size increase

development:progression from immaturity to maturity
Term
How can the intrauterine environment affect the growth & development of fetuses?
Definition
Smoking, drinking, drugs, can have an adverse affect on the mother and therefore the child.
Term
Major stages of human growth and development
Definition
Infancy, Juvenile,Puberty, Adulthood
Term
How does the trajectory of growth & development of the brain, reproductive system, & body differ in humans?
Definition
juvenile and post reproductive stage much longer than in close relatives
Term
Who was Carl von Linné (Carolus Linneaus)?
Definition
father of modern taxonomy, lived 1707-1778, wrote the Systema Naturae. Invented Binomial Nomenclature
Term
Who was Georges Cuvier?
Definition
lived 1769-1832 french naturalist
Recognized fossils as extinct animals
Term
Who was Charles Lyell
Definition
Wrote Principles of Geology in 1830. Stated change is the only constant
Term
Who was Gregor Mendel
Definition
Father of genetics, born in Brno Czech Republic, provided mechanism for variation. Pea Experiemnts
Term
who was Georges-Louis Buffon
Definition
Early evolutionist "Species must generate fertile offspring"
Term
who was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Definition
1st explicit evolutionist...Inheritance of acquired characteristics...A will to become better. Believed in Teleological ordering of species
Term
Charles Darwin was...?
Definition
Father of Evolutionary biology. Wrote "On Origin of Species" and the "Descent of Man" ...Sailed around the world on the Beagle
Term
James Hutton was...?
Definition
Geologist. "Changes in earth result from slow processes"
Term
Variations in genetics ultimately come from...
Definition
mutations
Term
Define Pleiotropy
Definition
Where one gene has multiple effects on the organism
Term
Define Microevolution
Definition
A change in gene frequencies over a few generations.
Term
Define Macroevolution
Definition
Substantial change over many generations often resulting in a new species
Term
Define Point Mutation
Definition
Where there is a replacement of a single nitrogen base with another base. This may or may not affect the amino acid for which the triplet codes
Term
Monosomy
Definition
Where there is only one chromosome instead of the normal two (In women for instance, there is only one X instead of two)
Term
Define Spontaneous Mutation
Definition
Where random changes in DNA occur during cell division
Term
Define Mutagen
Definition
Substances, such as toxins, chemicals, or radiation that may induce genetic mutations
Term
Directional selection is...
Definition
Selecting for one allele over another allele causing frequencies to shift in one direction
Term
Balancing Selection is...
Definition
where multiple alleles are selected for in a given population, maintaining genetic polymorphism
Term
Define sexual selection
Definition
where alleles that provide advantages for attracting mates are selected for.
Term
define genetic drift
Definition
Random changes in allele frequencies over time
Term
define founder effect
Definition
the accumulation of random genetic changes in a small population that has become isolated from the parent population due to the genetic input of only a few colonizers
Term
Define biological species concept
Definition
Two organisms that are able to reproduce naturally to produce fertile offspring of both genders.
Term
define anagenesis
Definition
Anagenesis, also known as "phyletic change," is the evolution of species involving an entire population rather than a branching event, as in cladogenesis.
Term
Define Sympatric Speciation
Definition
Sympatric speciation refers to the formation of two or more descendant species from a single ancestral species all occupying the same geographic location
Term
Define Adaptive radiation
Definition
the diversification of an ancestral group of organisms into new forms that are adapted to specific environmental niches
Term
Define Punctuated equilibrium
Definition
Long periods of no change in a species punctuated by rapid change
Term
define a cline
Definition
A gradual change in some phenotypic characteristic from one population to another
Term
postnatal growth stage is..
Definition
includes the infancy, childhood, juvenile, puberty and adolescence stages of human development
Term
Adolescence is...
Definition
The 5 - 10 year period during and after puberty. Normally between 12 and 20.
Term
Define Archaeology
Definition
The study of material remains to understand past cultures
Term
Define Cultural Anthropology
Definition
Study and explanation of modern cultural diversity
Term
Define empirical
Definition
anything verified through observation and experiment
Term
Define Theory
Definition
A set of hypotheses that have been rigorously tested and validated, becoming generally accepted in the scientific community
Term
Define Great Chain of Being
Definition
he great chain of being), is a classical and Western medieval concept of God's strict and natural hierarchical structure of the universe.
Term
Physical anthropology
Definition
evolution and biocultural variation of humans and our living and past relatives
Term
linguistics
Definition
study of human languages; how speech is structured and used
Term
Biocultural
Definition
every person is a product of both biology and culture
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
possible and testable explanation for a specific event
Term
Paradigm
Definition
preconceived notion about how the way the world is supposed to work
Term
Taxonomy
Definition
the classification of organisms in a system that reflects the degree of relatedness-
Term
Catastrophism
Definition
the doctrine asserting that cataclysmic events (such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and floods) rather than evolutionary processes are responsible for geological changes throughout Earths history
Term
Uniformatarianism
Definition
the theory that processes that occurred in the geologic past still occur today
Term
Allele
Definition
variant of a gene (ex: eye color-blue)
Term
Dominant allele
Definition
allele always expressed if present
Term
Phenotype
Definition
physical expression of a genotype
Term
Prokaryotes
Definition
single celled organisms with no nuclear membranes or organelles and with their genetic material as a single strand in the cytoplasm (lack a nucleus)
Term
Somatic cell
Definition
diploid cells that form the organs, tissues and other parts of an organism’s body
Term
Genome
Definition
complete set of genes in an individual cell
Term
Complimentary base
Definition
adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C); A and T go together, C and G go together
Term
Sex chromosome
Definition
the pair of chromosomes that determine and organism’s biological sex
Term
Mitosis
Definition
the process of cellular and nuclear division that creates two identical diploid daughter cells
Term
Diploid
Definition
a cell that has a full complement of paired chromosomes
Term
Regulatory gene
Definition
the gene that’s determines when structural genes and other regulatory genes are turned on and off for protein synthesis
Term
Regulatory protein
Definition
protein involved in the expression of control genes
Term
Transcription
Definition
the first step of protein synthesis, involving the creation of mRNA based on the DNA template
Term
tRNA
Definition
transfer RNA; the molecules that are responsible for transporting amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis
Term
Hox genes
Definition
homeotic genes; also known and the homebox genes, they are responsible for differentiating the specific segments for the body such as the head, tail, and limbs, during embryological development
Term
Homozygous
Definition
refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles at a single locus on homologous chromosomes are the same
Term
Normalizing selection
Definition
removal of alleles that produce divergence from the average phenotype in a population by selecting against deviant individuals
Term
Disruptive selection
Definition
term used to describe changes in population genetics that simultaneously favor individuals at both extremes of the distribution.
Term
Gene flow:
Definition
is the transfer of genetic information between separate populations
Term
Natural selection
Definition
According to Darwin’s theory of evolution, the process in which only the organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics increasing numbers to succeeding generations while those less adapted tend to be eliminated
Term
Ecological species concept:
Definition
: defines a species as a set of organisms exploiting a single niche
Term
Morphological species concept:
Definition
Species differ by certain physical characteristics. i.e They look different
Term
Cladogenesis
Definition
is evolution that results in the splitting of a lineage
Term
Allopatric speciation
Definition
an evolutionary process in which one species divides into two because the original homogenous population has become separated and both groups diverge from each other
Term
Gradualism
Definition
selection and variation that happens more gradually
Term
Phylogeny
Definition
The history or organismal lineages as they change through time
Term
Prenatal growth stage
Definition
from conception to birth
Term
Adult growth stage
Definition
biologically: fully adult dentition, all epiphysis fused, sexually maturity
Term
Life history
Definition
he amount of time an organism is dependent on prenatal care
Term
Senescence
Definition
age-related decline in physiological/behavioral function
Term
Bergmann’s Rule:
Definition
# the principle holding that in a warm-blooded animal species having distinct geographic populations.. Individuals living in a cold climate tend to be larger than individuals of that same species living in a warm climate
Term
Micronutrients
Definition
nutrients needed throughout life in small quantities
Term
Wolf’s Law
Definition
the principle that changes in the form and function of a bone are followed by changes in its internal structure
Term
Developmental adaptation
Definition
potential for trait inherited, but may or may not be expressed
Term
Hypoxia
Definition
“low-oxygen”
Term
Melanin
Definition
also known as pigment, is a substance that gives the skin and hair its natural color. It also is a mechanism for absorbing the heat from the sun
Term
Macronutrients
Definition
provides calories or energy
Term
Genetic adaptation
Definition
trait inherited and non-reversible
Term
Acclimatization
Definition
non-genetic adjustments to environmental conditions
Term
Menopause
Definition
cessation of fertility within females...around 50yr of age
Term
Gene
Definition
Gene- The basic unit of inheritance; a sequence of DNA on a chromosome, coded to produce a specific protein.
Term
Adaptations
Definition
Adaptations- Changes in physical structure, function, or behavior that allows an organism or species to survive and reproduce in a given environment.
Term
Genotype
Definition
Genotype- The genetic makeup of an organism; the combo of alleles for a given gene
Term
Recessive allele
Definition
Recessive allele- An allele that is expressed in an organism’s phenotype if 2 copies are present, but is masked if the dominant allele is present.
Term
Chromosome
Definition
Chromosome- The strand of DNA found in the nucleus of eukaryotes that contains hundreds or thousands of genes
Term
Eukaryotes
Definition
Eukaryotes- Multicelled organisms that have a membrane-bound nucleus containing both the genetic material and specialized organelles.
Term
Gamete
Definition
Gamete- Sexual reproductive cells, ova and sperm, that have a haploid # of chromosomes and that can unite with a gamete of the opposite sex to form a new organism.
Term
Nucleotide
Definition
Nucleotide- The building block of DNA and RNA, comprised of a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four nitrogen bases.
Term
Autosome
Definition
Autosome- All chromosomes, except the sex chromosomes, that occur in pairs in all somatic cells (not the gametes)
Term
Karyotype
Definition
Karyotype- The characteristics of the chromosomes for an individual organism or a species, such as a #, sixe, and type
Term
Meiosis
Definition
Meiosis- The production of gametes through 1 DNA replication and 2 cell (and nuclear) divisions, creating 4 haploid gametic cells
Term
Haploid
Definition
Haploid- A cell that gas a single set of unpaired chromosomes, half of the genetic material
Term
Structural Gene-
Definition
Structural Gene- Genes coded to produce particular products, such as an enzyme or hormone, rather than for regulatory proteins
Term
Structural Proteins
Definition
Proteins that form an organism’s physical attributes.
Term
Translation
Definition
Translation- The 2nd step of protein synthesis, involving the transfer of amino acids by tRNA to the ribosomes, which are then added to the protein chain
Term
mRNA
Definition
mRNA- ( messenger RNA) The molecules that are responsible for making a chemical copy of a gene needed for a specific protein, that is, for the transcription phase of protein synthesis
Term
polymorphism
Definition
polymorphism- Refers to the presence of 2 or more separate phenotypes for a certain gene in the population
Term
Heterozygous
Definition
Heterozygous- Refers to the condition in which a pair of alleles as a single locus on homologous chromosomes are different
Term
Polygenic
Definition
Polygenic-Refers to 1 phenotypic trait that is affected by 2 or more genes
Term
Coding DNA
Definition
Coding DNA- Sequences of a gene’s DNA (also known as exons) that are coded to produce a specific protein and are transcribed and translated during protein synthesis
Term
Gene pool
Definition
Gene pool- All genetic info in the breeding population
Term
Mutation
Definition
A random change in a gene or chromosome, creating a new trait that may be advantageous, deleterious, or neutral in its effects on the organism
Term
Frameshift mutation
Definition
Frameshift mutation-The change in a gene due to the insertion or deletion of 1 or more nitrogen bases, which causes the subsequent triplets to be rearranged and the codons to be read incorrectly during translation
Term
Trisomy
Definition
Trisomy- Refers to the condition in which an additional chromosome exists with the homologous pair
Term
Induced Mutation-
Definition
Induced Mutation- Refers to those mutations in the DNA resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals or to radiation
Term
Binomial Nomenclature
Definition
Binomial Nomenclature- The formal system of naming species
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