Race is a fairly new concept getting it 's roots during the Renaissance.Chapter five of Our Origins covers the idea of race. Moving into the 1700s, an anatomist by the name of Johann Friedrich Blumenbach began to categorize humans he encountered during his travels into different races. The process for forming his taxonomy of the people he encountered was based on skin color and skull shape. His conclusions stated that there were five different races of people and also argued that these races were unchangeable or static. However, this was debunked by Franz Boas who showed through his studies of parents and their offspring that skull shapes can differ from generation to generation. This disproves Blumenbach 's theory that race is a static and
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Developmental and physiological adaptation involve a species adapting genetically to meet the needs of their immediate environment over generations. Stressors such as low oxygen levels, large amounts of work, heat, and UV exposure all call for genetic changes over time. Over generations humans have adapted to their environment, creating variation. One well known example of humans adapting to their environment is variation in skin color. The body absorbs UV light through the skin and here the synthesis of vitamin D begins. UV radiation is vital for human survival, however, too much UV light can be harmful as an overexposure to UV radiation can result in malignant skin cancers. To combat the under and over exposure of UV radiation humans have developed varying skin color. Those individuals who live close to the equator and receive too much UV light have developed darker skin to prevent from over exposure. Meanwhile, those who live farther from the equator and receive less UV light have developed lighter skin, allowing the absorption of more UV light for vitamin D synthesis. Humans across the world are exposed to different external forces causing the need for adaptations across the board. These adaptations cause variation as very few humans experience the same stressors. Humans adapting to their environment is yet another reason for variation from place to …show more content…
Humans fall into the category of primate along with species such as the ape, gorilla, orangutan, tarsier and many others. Some defining characteristics of primates are a versatile skeletal structure, opposable thumbs, forward facing vision, larger brains, nails instead of claws, and behaviors such as raising young, grooming, and forming a hierarchy. The opposable thumbs of primates along with the combination of larger brains allows for the utilization of tools. Not only can primates use tools to help conquer the environment, they are also able to craft these tools. It was found in Jane Goodall 's study of chimpanzees that humans are not the only primates that can craft and use tools. Our cousin primates posses amazing abilities to allow them to survive in their habitat. Primates are the only animals with forward facing vision allowing for depth perception. Seeing in three dimensions is vital for the survival of primates living in the jungle, allowing for precision travel from tree to tree. Our Origins also speaks on the behaviors of primates such as tending to offspring for long periods of time, teaching vital survival skills, and the showing of affection. Primates are outstanding beings and share many of the same values and behaviors. From ape, to chimpanzee, to human, it is vital that we continue to recognize the similarities between
Developmental and physiological adaptation involve a species adapting genetically to meet the needs of their immediate environment over generations. Stressors such as low oxygen levels, large amounts of work, heat, and UV exposure all call for genetic changes over time. Over generations humans have adapted to their environment, creating variation. One well known example of humans adapting to their environment is variation in skin color. The body absorbs UV light through the skin and here the synthesis of vitamin D begins. UV radiation is vital for human survival, however, too much UV light can be harmful as an overexposure to UV radiation can result in malignant skin cancers. To combat the under and over exposure of UV radiation humans have developed varying skin color. Those individuals who live close to the equator and receive too much UV light have developed darker skin to prevent from over exposure. Meanwhile, those who live farther from the equator and receive less UV light have developed lighter skin, allowing the absorption of more UV light for vitamin D synthesis. Humans across the world are exposed to different external forces causing the need for adaptations across the board. These adaptations cause variation as very few humans experience the same stressors. Humans adapting to their environment is yet another reason for variation from place to …show more content…
Humans fall into the category of primate along with species such as the ape, gorilla, orangutan, tarsier and many others. Some defining characteristics of primates are a versatile skeletal structure, opposable thumbs, forward facing vision, larger brains, nails instead of claws, and behaviors such as raising young, grooming, and forming a hierarchy. The opposable thumbs of primates along with the combination of larger brains allows for the utilization of tools. Not only can primates use tools to help conquer the environment, they are also able to craft these tools. It was found in Jane Goodall 's study of chimpanzees that humans are not the only primates that can craft and use tools. Our cousin primates posses amazing abilities to allow them to survive in their habitat. Primates are the only animals with forward facing vision allowing for depth perception. Seeing in three dimensions is vital for the survival of primates living in the jungle, allowing for precision travel from tree to tree. Our Origins also speaks on the behaviors of primates such as tending to offspring for long periods of time, teaching vital survival skills, and the showing of affection. Primates are outstanding beings and share many of the same values and behaviors. From ape, to chimpanzee, to human, it is vital that we continue to recognize the similarities between