Introduction To Physical Anthropology

Front 1

Hominins

Back 1

Colloquial term for members of the evolutionary group that includes modern humans and all extinct bipedal relatives.

Front 2

Species

Back 2

A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. Members of one species are reproductively isolated from members of all other species.

Front 3

Bipedally

Back 3

On two feet; walking habitually on two legs.

Front 4

Anthropology

Back 4

The field of inquiry the studies human culture and evolutionary aspects of human biology; includes cultural anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and physical, or biological, anthropology.

Front 5

Primates

Back 5

Members of the mammalian order Primate, which includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.

Front 6

Evolution

Back 6

A change in the genetic structure, or makeup, of a population. The term is also frequently used to refer to the appearance of a new species.

Front 7

Adaptation

Back 7

An anatomical, physical, or behavioral response of organisms or populations to the environment. Adaptations result from evolutionary change (specifically, as a result of natural selection).

Front 8

Genetic

Back 8

Having to do with the study of gene structure and action and the patterns of inheritance of traits from parent to offspring. Genetic mechanisms are the foundation for evolutionary change.

Front 9

Speciation

Back 9

The appearance of a new species. Evolutionary change at this level is called macroevolution.

Front 10

Continuum

Back 10

A set of relationships in which all components fall along a single integrated spectrum (for example, color). All life reflects a single biological continuum.

Front 11

Culture

Back 11

Behavioral aspects of human adaptation, including technology, traditions, language, religion, marriage patterns, and social roles. Culture is a set of learned behaviors transmitted from one generation to the next by nonbiological means.

Front 12

Worldview

Back 12

General cultural orientation or perspective shared by members of a society.

Front 13

Biocultural Evolution

Back 13

The mutual, interactive evolution of human biology and culture; the concept that biology makes makes culture possible and that developing culture further influences the direction of biological evolution.

Front 14

Paleoanthropology

Back 14

The interdisciplinary approach to the study of earlier hominins--their chronology, physical structure, archaeological remains, habitats, and so on.

Front 15

Science

Back 15

A body of knowledge gained through observation and experimentation.

Front 16

Empirical

Back 16

Relying on experimentation or observation.

Front 17

Theory

Back 17

A broad statement of scientific relationships or underlying principles that has been substantially verified through the testing of hypothesis.

Front 18

Relativistic

Back 18

Viewing entities as they relate to something else. Cultural relativism is the view that cultures have merits within their own historical and environmental contexts.

Front 19

Natural Selection

Back 19

The most critical mechanism of evolutionary change; refers to genetic change or changes in the frequencies of certain traits in populations due to differential reproductive success between individuals.

Front 20

Fixity of Species

Back 20

The notion that species, once created, can never change; and idea diametrically opposed to theories of biological evolution.

Front 21

Reproductively Isolated

Back 21

Pertaining to groups of organisms that, mainly because of genetic differences, are prevented from mating and producing offspring with members of other such groups.

Front 22

John Ray

Back 22

Seventeenth-century minister who first used the labels of species and genus.

Front 23

Carolus Linnaeus

Back 23

Swedish naturalist who developed a method for classifying plants and animals. He standardized Ray's use of genus and species, established a system of binomial nomenclature, and added two more categories: class and order. His four-level system became the basis for taxonomy.

Front 24

Binomial Nomenclature

Back 24

In taxonomy, the convention established by Carolus Linnaeus whereby genus and species names are used to refer to species. For example, homo sapiens refers to human beings.

Front 25

Taxonomy

Back 25

The branch of science concerned with the rules of classifying organisms on the basis of revolutionary relationships.

Front 26

George-Louis Leclerc

Back 26

"He was not an evolutionist, yet he was the father of evolutionism."

Front 27

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Back 27

French naturalist who suggested a dynamic relationship between species and the environment. Developed the theory known as the inheritance of acquired characteristics, or the use-disuse theory. Coined the term biology.

Front 28

Castastrophism

Back 28

The view that the earth's geological landscape is the result of violent cataclysmic events.

Front 29

Uniformitarianism

Back 29

The theory that the earth's features are the result of long-term processes that continue to operate in the present just as they did in the past. Elaborated on by Charles Lyell, this theory contributed strongly to the concept of deep geological time.

Front 30

Reproductive Success

Back 30

The number of offspring an individual produces and rears to reproductive age; an individual's genetic contribution to the next generation.

Front 31

Selective Pressures

Back 31

Forces in the environment that influence reproductive success in individuals.

Front 32

Differential Net Reproductive Success

Back 32

The combination of fertility and the number of offspring reared to the point where they themselves can reproduce.

Front 33

Genome

Back 33

The entire genetic makeup of an individual or species.

Front 34

Proteins

Back 34

Three-dimensional molecules that serve a wide variety of functions through their ability to bind to other molecules.

Front 35

Nucleus

Back 35

An organelle found within all eukaryotic cells. The nucleus contains DNA that, during cell division, is organized into chromosomes.

Front 36

Molecules

Back 36

Structures made up of two or more atoms. Molecules can combine with other molecules to form more complex structures.

Front 37

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Back 37

The double-stranded molecule that contains the genetic code. DNA is a main component of chromosomes.

Front 38

Ribonucleic Acid

Back 38

A single-stranded molecule similar in structure to DNA. Three forms of RNA are essential t protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRna).

Front 39

Ribosomes

Back 39

Structures composed of a form of RNA called robosomal RNA (rRNA) and protein. Ribosomes are found in a cell's cytoplasm and are essential to the manufacture of proteins.

Front 40

Somatic Cells

Back 40

Basially, all the cells in the body except those involved with reproduction.

Front 41

Gametes

Back 41

Reproductive cells (eggs and sperm in animals) developed from precursor cells in ovaries and testes.

Front 42

Zygote

Back 42

A cell formed by the union of an egg cell and a sperm cell. It contains the full complement of chromosomes (46 in humans) and has the potential to develop into an entire organism.

Front 43

Nucleotides

Back 43

Basic units of the DNA molecule composed of a sugar, a phosphate, and one of four DNA bases.

Front 44

Enzymes

Back 44

Specialised proteins that initiate and direct chemical reactions in the body.

Front 45

Complementary

Back 45

In genetics, referring to the fact that DNA bases form pairs (called base pairs) in a precise manner. For example, adenine can bond only to thymine. These two bases are said to be complementary because one requires the other to form a complete DNA base pair.

Front 46

Hormones

Back 46

Substances (usually proteins) that are produced by specialized cells and that travel to other parts of the body, where they influence chemical reactions and regulate various cellular functions.

Front 47

Amino Acids

Back 47

Small molecules that are the components of proteins.

Front 48

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

Back 48

A form of RNA that's assembled on a sequence of DNA bases. It carries the DNA code to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

Front 49

Codons

Back 49

Triplets of messenger RNA bases that code for specific amino acids during protein synthesis.

Front 50

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

Back 50

The form of RNA that binds to specific amino acids and transports them to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

Front 51

Mutation

Back 51

A change in DNA. The term can refer to changes in the DNA bases (point mutations) as well as to changes in chromosome number and/or structure.

Front 52

Gene

Back 52

A sequence of DNA bases that specifies the order of amino acids in an entire protein, a portion of a protein, or any functional product (RNA). A gene may be made up of hundreds or thousands of DNA bases organized into coding and noncoding segments.

Front 53

Genome

Back 53

The entire genetic makeup of an individual of species.

Front 54

Exons

Back 54

Segments of genes that are transcribed and are involved in protein synthesis.

Front 55

Noncoding DNA

Back 55

DNA that does not direct the production of proteins. However, such DNA segments may produce other important molecules, so the term 'noncoding DNA' is not really accurate.

Front 56

Introns

Back 56

Segments of genes that are initially transcribed and then deleted. Because they aren't expressed, they aren't involved in protein synthesis.

Front 57

Chromosomes

Back 57

Discrete structures composed of DNA and proteins found only in the nucleus of cells. Chromosomes are visible under magnification only during certain phases of cell division.

Front 58

Regulatory Genes

Back 58

Genes that influence the activity of other genes. Regulatory genes direct embryonic development and are involved in physiological processes throughout life.

Front 59

Homeobox Genes

Back 59

An evolutionary ancient group of regulatory genes. One type (Hox genes) directs segmentation of the body during embryonic development.

Front 60

Sex Chromosomes

Back 60

In mammals, the X and Y chromosomes.

Front 61

Autosomes

Back 61

Carry genetic information that governs all physical characteristics except primary sex determination.

Front 62

Recombination

Back 62

The exchange of genetic material between paired chromosomes during meiosis; also called crossing over.

Front 63

Hybrids

Back 63

Offspring of parents who differ from each other with regard to certain traits or certain aspects of genetic makeup; heterozygotes.

Front 64

Principle of Segregation

Back 64

Genes (alleles) occur in pairs because chromosomes occur in pairs. During gamete formation, the members of each pair of alleles separate, so that each gamete contains one member of each pair.

Front 65

Recessive

Back 65

Describing a trait that isn't expressed in heterozygotes; also refers to the allele that governs the trait. For a recessive allele to be expressed, an individual must have two copies of it.

Front 66

Dominant

Back 66

In genetics, describing a trait governed by an allele that's expressed in the presence of another allele. Prevent the expression of recessive alleles in heterozygotes.