Exam 2 Biological Anthropology

Bergmann's & Allen's rules

*Best to have lots of volume and less surface area in cold climates *best to have less volume and lots of surface area in hot climates

Forensic context

- Is it human - morphology - gross/ looking at it with the naked eye - microscopic/ looking at it in slivers

Selection on complex traits

- Stabilizing selection - Directional selection - disruptive selection

Biological profile

- age -sex - stature - ancestry - trauma - pathology - anomalies

recovery

- locating bodies - excavation of remains or artifacts - archaeological techniques

balanced polymorphism Rh maternal

- more than one allele is present at stable frequencies

Adaptation

A characteristic that improves an individual's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Cline

A graded change in a trait along a geographic axis.

malaria

A intermittent and remittent fever caused by a parasite that invades the red blood cells

melanin

A pigment that gives the skin its color

Operation Identification (OpID)

A program at Texas State University where forensic anthropology majors go down to Brooks County cemetery to id bodies found on the border of Texas and Mexico. This program is in place so moreunidenitfied bodies can be found and end the missing person's report.

repatriation

A refugee or group of refugees returning to their home country, usually with the assistance of government or a non-governmental organization.

mass disaster

An event involving the deaths of multiple individuals, also called mass fatality incident

human taxonomy

Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, Primates, Hominidae, Homo, Sapiens - it added a variety of humans attributing behavior characteristics to different races

Modern Human Adaptation

Biological or cultural responses to environmental stress

genetic adaptation

Biologically inherited response to environmental stress

fetal incompatibility

Can occur when the mother is Rh- and fetus is Rh+ - that caused the mother's blood to create antibodies that "attack" the foreign blood that is the infant's

Genetic variation

Differences among individuals in the composition of their genes or other DNA segments

sexual dimorphism

Differences in physical characteristics between males and females of the same species.

UV Radiation

Energy from the sun that damages DNA structure, increases mutation rate, and causes skin cancer. [D Period DK]

Natural Selection in Humans

It depends on the phenotype of the individual which takes into consideration the population

High altitude stress

Low oxygen pressure Cold temperatures Low humidity High winds Lots of solar radiation Poor nutritional base

hypoxia

Low oxygen saturation of the body, not enough oxygen in the blood - can happen to higher altitudes

directional selection

Natural selection in which individuals at one end of the phenotypic range survive or reproduce more successfully than do other individuals.

pathology

Processes, causes, and effects of a disease; abnormality

vasoconstriction

Reduces blood flow and heat transfer by decreasing the diameter of superficial blood vessels.

Carolus Linneaus (1707-1778)

Started the taxonomy of humans, gathered his data from sailors and explorers without any experience on his part.

phenotypic plasticity

The ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes under different environmental conditions. - can happen day to day

nutrition

The process by which your body takes in and uses food

DNA analysis

The testing of DNA samples that exists on the evidence collected from a crime scene

Heat & cold stress

These are examples of modern human adaptations

selection for the heterozygote

Those with the genotype of SS will have full blown sickle cell anemia/ will die from sickle cell. Those who have the genotype AA will die from malaria. - heterozygote advantage

skin color

Three pigments contribute to skin color: melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin.

rickets

Vitamin D deficiency

Johann Blumenbach (1752-1840)

Wrote the book, "On the Natural Variety of Mankind" - he attributed geographic regions with race

Genetic drift

an evolutionary change due to chance; random change in allele. Effect is dependent on population size.

Stress

any environmental factor that disrupts homeostasis

Modern Human Variation & Race Concept

before majors roads and sailing, many people lived and died within a 5 mile radius. When the silk roads was introduced human variation gradually became more diverse.

acclimatization

biological change due to long term stress - EX: moving to an environment that has a different elevation and adds stress to your lungs

acclimation

biological change due to short term stress - addresses phenotypic plasticity - EX: sunburn

skeletal analysis

biology of burial: age, sex, disease, stature, skeletal modification while alive

folate photolysis

chemical decomposition of folate by visible light

dental traits

dental records are used to identify bodies

Sickle cell allele

describes the condition where the person has one adnormal allele of the hemoglobin beta gene but does not display the severe symptoms of sickle cell genes

sickle cell trait

disorder in which individuals show signs of mild anemia only when they are seriously deprived of oxygen; occurs in individuals who have one dominant allele for normal blood cells and one recessive sickle-cell allele

age

estimation in ranges/ degenerative change

ancestry

examining the points on the skull to seek a better understanding

stabilizing selection

form of natural selection in which individuals near the center of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals at either end of the curve

effect of climate

how different climates contribute to the decomposition of a cadaver

trauma

informs manner of death

stature

is measured in long bone length (femur is examined)

disruptive selection

natural selection in which individuals at the upper and lower ends of the curve have higher fitness than individuals near the middle of the curve

sex

pelvis and cranium distinctions

racial taxonomy

primarily based on skin color and geographic regions - typology

Fitness

relative to the environment, it's phenotypical/ genotypical

selection against the heterozygote

results in Rh + blood type - this is a heterozygote disadvantage

biological profile

sex, age, ancestry, stature, trauma, pathology, anomalies

melanoma

skin cancer

vitamin D synthesis

skin first step; liver and kidneys complete process

Positive identification

strategies used to identify a cadaver. - DNA - Antemortem and postmortem x- rays - health records

natural selection

sum total of environmental forces that determine determine differential fertility and mortality.

Malaria symptoms

sweating, high fever, chills, shaking, back pain, nausea, spleen enlargement

clinal distribution

the frequency change of a particular trait as you move geographically from one point to another

biocultural evolution

the interaction between biology and culture in human evolution

migrant crisis

the number of dead and missing migrants and refugees has increased over the years

identification

the process or techniques used to properly identify a cadaver. - preservation - artifacts - morphology- how bodies are placed

Minimum number of individuals (MNI)

the smallest number of individuals necessary to account for all identified bones - what part of the skeleton are present

personal (cultural) items

these items are used to have a better identify the body. these personal items include but are not limited to; - shoes - identification cards - clothing items - food

Postmortem interval (PMI)

time elapsed between a person's death and discovery of the body

Homeostasis

when an individual has a stable, internal environment

vasodilation

widening of blood vessels

Search and recovery:

• Locating bodies • Excavation of remains and artifacts • Archaeological techniques