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Human Evolution [105] Exam 1
Ch 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 9
26
Anthropology
Undergraduate 4
06/28/2011

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Term
Physical Anthropology
Definition
scientific discipline that studies biology and behavioral characteristics of human beings, the non-human primates and the ancestors of both.
Term
Evolution
Definition
A change in the genetic structure of a population - new species.
Term
Hominins
Definition
colloquial term for members of the evolutionary group that includes modern humans and now extinct bipedal relatives.
Term
Species
Definition
A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
Term
Primates
Definition
Memebers of the mammalian order Primates, which include lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans.
Term
Adaptation
Definition
An anatomical, physiological, or behavioral response of organisms or populations to the environment.
Term
Genetic
Definition
Having to do with the studying of gene structure and action and the patterns of inheritance of traits from parent to offspring. Genetic mechanisms are the foundation for evolutionary change.
Term
Culture
Definition
Behavioral aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage patterns, and social roles; learned; transmitted from one generation to the next by non-biological means.
Term
Biocultural Evolution
Definition
The mutual interactive evolution of human biology and culture; the concept that biology makes culture possible and that developing culture further influences the direction of biological evolution
Term
Ethnographies
Definition
Detailed descriptive studies of human societies. In cultural anthropology, an ethnography is traditionally the study of a non-Western society.
Term
Artifacts
Definition
Objects or materials made or modified for use by hominins. The earliest artifacts are usually tools made of stone, or occasionally, bone.
Term
Hypothesis
Definition
A provisional explanation of a phenomenon; require verification or falsification through testing.
Term
Empirical
Definition
Relying on experiment or observation.
Term
Theory
Definition
A broad statement of scientific relationships or underlying principles that has been substantially verified through the testing of hypotheses.
Term
Quadrupedal
Definition
Using all four limbs to support the body during locomotion
Term
Ethnocentric
Definition
Viewing other cultures from the inherently biased perspective of one's own culture.
Term
Natural Selection
Definition
The most critical mechanism of evolutionary change, first descrived by Charles Darwin; refers to genetic change or changes in the frequencies of certain traits in population due to differential reproductive success between individuals.
Term
Fixity of Species
Definition
The notion that species, once created, can never change; an idea diametrically opposed to theories of biological evolution.
Term
Reproductively Isolate
Definition
Pertaining to groups of organisms that, mainly because of genetic differences, are prevented from mating and producing offspring with members of such other groups. - Ex: cats and dogs.
Term
Binomial Nomenclature
Definition
In taxonomy, the convention established by Carolus Linnaeus whereby genus and species names are used to refer to species. - Ex: homo sapiens = human beings
Term
Taxonomy
Definition
The branch of science concerned with the rules of classifying organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationships.
Term
Catastrophism
Definition
The view that the earth's geological landscape is the result of violent cataclysmic events.
Term
Uniformitarianism
Definition
The theory that the earth's features are the result of long-term processes that continue to operate in the present just as they did in the past
Term
Fitness
Definition
Pertaining to natural selection, a measure of the relative reproductive success of individuals. Fitness can be measured by an individual's genetic contribution to the next generation compared with that of other individuals.
Term
Reproductive Success
Definition
The number of offspring an individual produces and rears to reproductive age; an individual's genetic contribution to the next generation.
Term
Genome
Definition
The entire genetic make up of an individual or species.
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