Introduction to Anthropology - Chapter 4 Study Guide

8/10/2019 Introduction to Anthropology - Chapter 4 Study Guide

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Chapter 4 Study Guide

1. What process is considered the ultimate source of all genetic variation?

Mutation, the changes in the structure of a gene, is the process that is

considered the ultimate source of all genetic variation.

2. What is an adaptation? How does this work?

An adaptation is a genetic change that gives their carriers a better chance

to survive and reproduce than individuals without this genetic change who

live in the same environment.

3. What is acclimatiation? What are two t!pes of acclimatiation"s?

Acclimatiation involves ph!siological ad#ustments in individuals to

environmental conditions. $t is not genetic.

%he two t!pes of acclimatiation are short&term and long&term.

'. How does culture allow humans to modif! our environment? (ive 3 e)amples

listed.

*ulture allows humans to modif! our environment b!+

iving in houses

Harnessing energ! to create heatWearing clothing to insulate the bod!

-. Who developed the theories that e)plain bod! build and facial construction

differences variation seen in birds and mammals?

ergmann and Allen

/. What are the two theories that e)plain this variation?

ergmann"s rule and Allen"s rule

0. (ive an e)ample of ergmann"s rule at work.

%he slenderer populations of a species inhabit warmer parts of its

geographic range the more robust populations inhabit the cooler areas

. (ive an e)ample of Allen"s rule at work.


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rotruding bod! parts are relativel! shorter in cooler areas of a species

range than in warmer areas.

4. What rule e)plains the variation in skin color of modern humans?

(loger"s 5ule.

16. 7)plain how (loger"s rule works.

(loger"s 5ule states that populations of birds and mammals living in

warmer climates have more melanin and therefore darker skin, fur or

feathers than do populations of the same species living in cooler areas.

11. What group of individuals demonstrates an e)ception to this rule?

8ative Americans are lighter than e)pected.

12. What is h!po)ia?

9)!gen deficienc!

13. What ke! ph!sical feature can be seen in individuals who live at high altitudes?

arger chests

1'. $s this feature genetic or a b!product of the environment?

%his feature is a b!product of the environment. $t is caused b!acclimatiation.

1-. What environmental influences pla! a role in determining an individual"s height?

%emperature differences, poor nutrition, disease, and emotional:ph!sical

stress during infanc!.

1/. ;uring World War $$ what factors contributed to the decline of children"s overall

stature?

oor nutrition and stress

10. *an children who are malnourished or diseased before the ages of 3 ever e)pect toachieve ma)imum height?

8o, stature at age 1 will be reduced.


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1. What were the results of the stud! that e)posed rats to fre


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%he inabilit! to digest milk properl!.

2/. What parts of the world is lactase deficienc! found?

outheast and 7ast Asia, $ndia, the >editerranean, the 8ear 7ast, sub&aharan Africa and 8ative 8orth and outh Americans.

20. $n what t!pe of societ! would !ou e)pect 89% to find lactase deficienc!? Wh!?

;air!ing populations, or people who create dair! products, should have a

high population of individuals with the abilit! to break down lactose.

2. Wh! do anthropologists generall! steer awa! from using the term @race in its

application to humans?

=istfights, riots and civil wars have all stemmed from tensions andmisunderstandings about Brace".

24. Wh! is racial classification problematic?

5acial classifications have been used to #ustif! discrimination,e)ploitation, and even e)termination of certain categories of people.

36. $s @race a social construct or a scientific categor!?

5ace, when applied to humans, is a social categor!, not a scientific one.

31. What are the two criticisms in regards to the genetic interpretations of the $C test?

%wo criticisms are+

1. $C tests are not an accurate measure of intelligence. %he resultsare skewed in favor of the subculture who constructs the test.

2. $C tests can be influenced b! the social environment.

32. ;o !ou agree with %heodosius ;obhansk!"s position on $C tests? Wh! or wh!not?

obhansk! believes that all people should be able to develop whatevergifts or aptitudes the! possess and choose to develop. %his is in line with

modern education theor! which states that there are multiple intelligences

and no single test can accuratel! measure all intelligences into a single testor number.

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Introduction to Anthropology - Chapter 4 Study Guide