Anthropology, Science, Evolutionary Theory
What are the five forces of evolution covered in class
What is Charles Darwin most known for?
Publicizing/outlining evidence for the theory of evolution (and potentially smooching Fitzroy)
Name three primate features!
●Convergent eyes ●Postorbital bar ●Many have trichromatic color vision ●Short snouts ●Opposable thumbs and big toes- grasping hands ●Pentadactyly ●Flattened nails ●Tactile pads ●Highly arboreal ●Large brains ●Extended life histories ●Live in the tropics
What is the only way for a new gene to be introduced to a species (not a population), thus increasing diversity
Mutation
What is taphonomy?
It is the term for the subdiscipline of paleontology related to the processes of fossilization. This includes all things that happen to the remains of an organism after it dies until it is observed or collected by a scientist.
What defines Anthropology?
•Holism and holistic approach
•An empirical discipline
•Dynamism
Alfred Russel Wallace
Independently developing a theory of evolution on a separate voyage around SE Asia, pushing Darwin to publish
What super family do the apes belong to?
Hominoidea
What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?
Mitosis is process of somatic cell division that results in two diploid daughter somatic cells, while meiosis is process of gametogenesis involving two rounds of cell division, resulting in four haploid daughter cells.
How many extinction events have occurred in the past? How do scientists calculate if a major extinction event is occurring?
Five
by studying the fossil record, looking for a sudden and significant decrease in the diversity of species across different rock layers, which indicates a rapid loss of life over a relatively short period of time; they can also analyze current extinction rates compared to the "background extinction rate" to see if the rate is significantly elevated, often using methods like species-area relationships to estimate population sizes and extinction rates.
What postulates have to be true for a theory of natural selection (both Darwins and the other two we described in class)
It is contingent and local
It requires heritability, variation, and differential reproductive success
Rosalind Franklin
a X-ray crystallographer whose work was central to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA
In general what is the difference between Strepsirrhini and Haplorhhini- focus on their head shape
Mainly strepsirrhini are the less "primate" looking out group of lemurs and loruses. They have these long snouts. Haplorhinni is more what we would expect a monkey or ape to look like- its monkeys and apes! They have flatter faces.
What is the Modern synthesis?
It established that the production of variation (via mutation) and the shaping of it (via selection AND OTHER FORCES OF EVOLUTION) were both necessary to explain evolution. the marriage of genetics and Darwin’s theory of evolution
Which term refers to longer-term changes in a population that can eventually result in speciation?
Macroevolution
What is the difference between a hypothesis, theory, and law?
Hypothesis- A proposed explanation for a specific observation
Theory- a well-tested explanation for a broad set of observations
Law - A statement that summarizes the relationship between variables but does not explain it
Gregory Mendel's Laws of Inheritance
Particulate Heredity
Independent Segregation
Independent Assortment
What defines Superfamilies Cercopithecoidea?
Primitive, quadrupedal body plan ●Bilophodont molars ●Seat pads ●Geographically widespread ●Two groups ○Leaf monkeys ○Cheek-pouch monkeys
What is epigenetics? What are some ways it occurs?
how behaviors and the environment can cause changes in gene expression
Eukaryotic gene expression can be regulated at many stages: ▪ Transcription ▪ Chromatin Accesability ▪ RNA Processing ▪ Alternative Splicing ▪ miRNAs ▪ RNA stability ▪ Translation ▪ miRNAs ▪ Protein Activity
The East African Proconsul is considered to be an early
Ape
Describe how allele diversity increases, decreases, or maintains under four of the forces of evolution
Gene flow- decreases overall diversity but does increase diversity of a population at first
Mutation- increases diversity
Selection- decreases diversity
Genetic drift- decreased diversity
John Ray
First proposed that interbreeding organisms be called “species” And similar groups of species be called “genera” (singular = “genus”)
What's the difference between Infraorders Platyrrhini and Catarrhini
Mainly nostrils direction! Specifically:
Catarrhini: Asia and Africa, Teardrop-shaped nose ●Downward-pointing nostrils ●Large bodies ●Sexually dimorphic ●Terrestrial ●2:1:2:3 dental formula ●Trichromatic color vision
Platyrrhini: Americas, Flat nose ●Rounded nostrils pointing to the sides ●Highly arboreal ●Less sexually dimorphic ●2:1:3:3 dental formula ●Polymorphic color vision
What is the difference between genetic replication, genetic transcription, and genetic replication?
Genetic replication is the process of copying an entire DNA molecule to produce two identical DNA strands, while genetic transcription is the process of copying a specific DNA sequence into a messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule, and genetic translation is the process of using the information in mRNA to synthesize a protein by assembling amino acids into a polypeptide chain; essentially, replication makes more DNA, transcription converts DNA into RNA, and translation converts RNA into protein.
What is the name of your textbook?
Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology, 2nd Edition