Biological Anthropology Quiz 1

What is the scientific definition of a theory?

An overarching explanation for a large number of facts and observations that has been tested thoroughly

What is meant by fitness?

Fitness is a property of an allele and how likely it is to show up in offspring. Alleles with higher fitness get passed on to the next generation.

What are the two basic propositions of the scientific method?

Nature governed by natural laws can be discovered through inquiry and thought. Humans are part of nature and subject to natural laws.

Be able to name at least one scientist responsible for making a major contribution to overcoming each of these obstacles. Be able to describe why their contribution was important.

Copernicus demonstrated that the Earth couldn't be the center of the universe and was supported by Galileo. Jean Baptiste Lamarck challenged fixity of species

What were the four main obstacles to evolutionary thinking?

1. People thought the Earth was the center of the universe 2. Fixity of species- people thought the animals listed in Genesis were the only animals to have ever existed and that they've never changed. 3. Antiquity of the Earth- Earth thought to be very young 4. Humans are outside the natural order- so we must be considered separately from other species

Know the three main components of evolution by natural selection.

1. The ability of a population to expand is infinite, but the ability of the environment to support populations is always finite. 2. Organisms within populations vary, and this variation affects ability of organisms to survive and reproduce 3. Variations are transmitted from parents to offspring

How does a scientific paradigm differ from a theory?

A scientific paradigm is a model of thought at a time. A theory is an explanation that has been tested thoroughly

What is an adaptive radiation? How is this shown in finches?

Adaptive radiation is the process by which one species gives rise to multiple species that exploit different niches. All species of finches fill different ecological niches and share a common ancestor.

The three assumptions in all sciences

All events in nature are do to natural causes. The laws of nature are the same no matter where you are in space or time. All humans perceive events with the same suite of senses.

How does biological anthropology fit within the broader discipline of anthropology? What is covered within its scope

Anthropology is the study of humans and biological anthropology is one of the four major areas of anthropology. It covers where we come from and how we've changed.

Why is it important in biological anthropology to think of humans as one component of a larger natural world full of different species?

Because we are fundamentally no different than any other animal species on earth.

What was it about finches that was important for Darwin in developing his ideas about natural selection?

Darwin determined that finches shared a common ancestor. He noted that on each island, the species of finch there were9 perfectly adapted to their environment.

What is the main difference between directional selection and stabilizing selection?

Directional selection favors evolutionary change based on environmental conditions. (ex: big beaks during drought and small beaks after) Stabilizing selection favors keeping things the same. Tradeoff between having ability to harvest resources from the environment (big beaks) and energy it takes to maintain (siphons energy away from important things like the immune system)

A general theme of biological anthropology

Evolution, human origins

What was the main role of exploration and voyages of discovery in encouraging evolutionary thought?

Greater exploration, coupled with a new view on nature, revealed an astonishing array of biodiversity and geologic diversity. Greater focus on naturalist explanations

Are hypotheses designed to be proven or falsified? Do you have to do an experiment?

Hypotheses are designed to be falsified because that is how science advances. No you don't have to do an experiment because there are other means of collecting information such as observation.

How did the big drought of 1976 - 1978 provide a good opportunity to observe evolution by natural selection in action on the Galapagos

It basically showed that evolution by natural selection can happen very quickly. Drought killed off most small beaked birds because only large seeds were around. Since mainly large beak birds remained, selection favored them and after that period of time there were more big beaked birds than small. Process doesn't have to take millions or thousands of years

What are the two most influential scientific contributions around the time of Darwin and Wallace that got them thinking about evolution by natural selection?

Jean Baptiste Lamarck's belief in the Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics. Basically, organisms can pass on physiological changes to their offspring based on a current need (Ex: long neck giraffes). T.R. Malthus- populations grow infinitely, resources to support them are finite, therefore, there will be competitions for resources where winners survive and losers don't (population control)

Why are monarch butterflies a good example of adaptation? How are monarchs a good example of how adaptation in one species can lead to adaptation in another? How did viceroys capitalize on monarch adaptations?

Monarchs are a good example of adaptation because they recruit poisons from their environment to defend against predators. This shows adaptation well suited for their environments. Because of their toxicity, predators stay away from them. This lead viceroys to adapt to look like monarchs so that even if they're not toxic, predators will still leave them alone.

What is so important about the theory of evolution by natural selection for understanding how organisms change?

Organisms change based on selective pressures

What are some controls within science to help ensure quality of results is maintained?

Peer review, others must be able to replicate experiments and get same results, hypotheses must be falsifiable

What was the main reason the Great Chain of Being was problematic for evolutionary thinking?

People weren't finding out answers to questions themselves, they were getting all their answers from the church. Mainly because most were illiterate

What is the significance of reproductive success?

Reproductive success is the number of offspring an individual produces. Kin selection may apply as well

What are the facts that lead Darwin to his conclusions about natural selection?

Species aren't fixed, and fossils remain as remnants of life on earth. Processes of today same as the past. These processes take a lot of time.

What is the role of the environment in natural selection?

The environment dictates the way organisms evolve. In order to survive, organisms must adapt to their environments.

What is the role of environment in the theory of evolution by natural selection?

The environment exerts selection pressures that push populations in various directions.

Parsimony/Occam's Razor

The simplest solution is usually the one most turn to first. You want to make the least new assumptions possible.

What is biological anthropology?

The study of human biology as a product of evolution