Download Larsen Chapter Guide 5

1.1
Essentials of Physical Anthropology Chapter 5
Updated April 11, 2017
Gloger's Rule
functional adaptation
the race concept, in biological terms
genetic adaptation
Bergmann's Rule
hypoxia
Allen's Rule
melanin
clinal distribution
melanocytes
discontinuous variation
eumelanin
ABO blood types (review)
pheomelanin
ethnocentric (from class)
melanoma
lactose
rickets
lactase persistence
folate
cultural relativism (from class)
neural tube defect (= spina bifida)
intelligence testing
deciduous dentition
sexual dimorphism
menopause
grandmothering
vasodilation
hypothermia
malnutrition
1.2
Write a brief paragraph to answer each question. Use course vocabulary
and provide specific examples and definitions.
1. How do humans functionally adapt to hot climates? What genetic adaptations
have occurred in people living for generations in hot climates?
2. How do humans functionally adapt to cold climates? What genetic adaptations
have occurred in people living for generations in cold climates?
3. How do humans functionally adapt to high altitudes? What genetic
adaptations have occurred in people living for generations at high altitudes?
4. What are the two opposing selective pressures involved in the evolution of
human skin color?
5. What does it mean that human skin color has a clinal distribution?
6. Why do biological anthropologists use the term “lactase persistence” instead
of “lactose intolerance”? Which condition is normal in the human species?
7. Discuss the microevolution of lactase persistence. How did it happen? Which
processes of microevolution were involved?
8. Consider your answers to questions 1 – 7. How do they relate to whether
“race” is a valid or useful concept in biology?
9. What is biocultural evolution? Provide two real-world examples.
10. T/F and why? Most of the world’s population of humans has fairly dark to very
dark skin because of the danger of skin cancer.
11. T/F and why? Humans cannot adapt to the environment during their lifetime.
12. T/F and why? Vitamin D plays a role in the evolution of human skin color.
13. What are some of the health costs of undernutrition? Of overnutrition?
1.3