Biological Anthropology

the study of human biology and behavior within an evolutionary context 

Primate

a group of mammals comprising prosimians, monkeys, apes and humans 

Species

a group of similar looking organisms capable of interbreeding 

Evolutionary Tree

A diagram showing evolutionary relationships among species or groups of species 

 Hominid

A bipedal member of the evolutionary lineage leading to modern humans 

Genetics

the study of inherited traits 

Transmission Genetics

The study of how traits are passed on from parent to offspring 

Population Genetics

the study of how genes are distributed within an interbreeding group 

Human Biology

the study of human variation with respect to evolution and physiology 

Paleoanthropology 

the interdisciplinary study of human origins 

Primatology

the study of non-human primates, usually in the wild 

Forensic Anthropology

the application of anthropological techniques to solve unexplained deaths 

John Ray

first proposed that interbreeding organisms be called species and similar groups of species be called genera 

Carolus Linnaeus

first systematic classification of organisms, genus species, and class order 

George Buffon

first suggested that species were not completely fixed, dynamic relationship between organisms and environment, believed world was old 

Erasmus Darwin

first proposed idea of the origin of species through evolution in Zoonomia

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck

theory of evolution by inheritance of acquired characteristic, felt needs, internal forces 

George Cuvier

recognized that fossils could be grouped with modern organisms, argued for catastrophism 

Charles Lyell

challenged catastrophism, deep time, introduced uniformitarianism 

Thomas Malthus 

populations have the potential to increase at a faster rate than resources, intense competition

Hypothesis

a statement about a phenomena with testable predictions 

Theory

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the world 

Adaptations

features produced by natural selection that allows them to survive and reproduce in their environment 

Fitness

an organism's ability to survive and reproduce 

Adaptive Evolution

differences in fitness among organisms will result in a compatibility between an organism and its environment through time 

Heritability

the extent to which offpsring resemble their parents 

Sexual Selection

evolutionary change that occurs because of variation in ability to acquire mates 

Intrasexual Selection

male-male competition, preventing rivals from mating 

Intersexual Selection

female choice, acquire mates by attracting them to you 

Sexual Dimorphism

differences among the sexes due to sexual selection 

Mitochonria

an organelle that also contains DNA 

Somatic Cells

components of body tissues 

Gametes

cells used for reproduction (sperm and ova) 

Zygote

union between a sperm and an ovum 

Chromosome

composed of DNA molecule and associated proteins 

Autosomes

make proteins that govern all physical characteristics except sex

Sex Chromosomes

associated with specifying sex determination 

Genetic Code

relationship between codons and amino acids 

Gene

entire sequence of DNA bases responsible for the synthesis of a protein

Mitosis

cell division in somatic cells that produces two dipploid cells 

Meiosis

cell division of the gametes that produces 4 haploid cells 

Diploid 

having homologous pairs of chromosomes 

Haploid 

having a single chromosome in a cell 

Locus

location on a chromosome where homologous genes are located 

Alleles

alternate forms of the DNA sequence at a locus, gene 

Heterozygous

having different alleles at particular locus 

Homozygous

having the same alleles at a particular locus 

Genotype

the genetic constitution of an individual  

Phenotype

the observable traits that are expressed by the genotype 

Independent Assortment

the distribution of one pair of alleles into gametes does not affect the distribution of another pair 

Sex-linked Traits

alleles found on the sex chromosomes can code for sex-specific phenotypes 

Transmission Genetics

expected ratios of offspring genotypes, given the genotypes of their parents 

Population

a community of individuals where mates are usually found; a group of interbreeding individuals localized in time and space 

Frequency

the proportion of all objects that are of that type 

Evolution

change in allele frequency from one generation to the next 

Hardy-Weinberg Equillibrium

tells how alleles will be distributed into genotypes in the offspring generation in a very, very large population under the assumptions of no mutation, migration, natural selection, accidental deaths, and random mating 

Genetic Drift

allele frequency change independent of fitness 

Fixed Allele

when there are two alleles at a locus and one is elimated, the other is fixed 

Pleiotropy

when a single locus controls more than one trait 

Discrete Traits

traits that are packaged in clearly defined categories and controlled by a single locus (Mendelian traits) 

Continuous Traits

traits that do not have clearly defined categories of pheotypes, they overlap 

Polygenic Traits

continuous traits - more influenced by the environment  

Directional Selection

selection eliminates the unfit "nontall" individuals 

Stabilizing Selection

selection eliminates the unfit "non-average" individuals 

Disruptive Selection

selection eliminates the "average" individuals 

Macroevolution

evolutionary change that results in the production of new species  

Biological Species Concept

species are groups of interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups 

Recognition Species Concept

a population of diploid individuals with a shared, specific mate recognition system 

Founder Effect Speciation

vicariant isolating event of a small population in which reproductive isolation then evolves 

Allopatric Speciation

new species form due to geographic isolation 

Allopatry

populations living in different geographic area 

Sympatry

populations living in the same geographic area 

Punctuated Equillibrium

long periods of no change with 

new adaptive characters developing quickly at speciation  

Intraspecific Variation

variation among members of a species  

Interspecific Variation

variation between two or more species  

Paleospecies

a member of a past lineage 

Taxonomy

the theory and practice of classifying organisms 

Homologies

similarity due to common ancestry 

Analogies

superficial similarities of features based on common function, not common ancestry 

Homoplasy

separate evolutionary development of analogies in different species 

Derived Homology

help to define a more exclusive set of species 

Ancestral Homology

a trait shared by a group of species because they share a past lineage 

Clade

a set of taxa descended from a particular ancestral taxon 

Cladogram

has a relative time component, but not a chronological aspect, represent patterns of common ancestry 

Lithospheric Plates

float on the asthenosphere and can collide  to create subduction or orogeny (mtns) 

Heterodonty

having different types of teeth 

Diphodonty

two sets of teeth, milk teeth and permanent teeth 

Dental Formula

incisors, canines, premolars, molars

Prosimii

lemurs, lorises, tarsiers 

Anthropoidea

monkeys, apes, humans 

Life History

how an organism spreads its reproduction out over its lifetime 

Positional Behavior

the various locomotor and postural behaviors exhibited by a given species 

Locomotor Modes

movements like finding food, finding mates 

Postural Modes

stationary like harvesting food and resting 

Basal Metabolic Rate

rate of energy expenditure to maintain life when at rest 

Nocturnal

active at night 

Diurnal

active during the day 

Cathemural

active during day and night 

Home Ranges

geographic areas that contain all the resources a primate needs to survive 

Territories

home ranges that are actively patrolled and defended against conspecifics 

Alarm Calls

calls within species that warn about predators 

Philopatric Sex

the sex that remains while the other sex leaves the group to prevent inbreeding 

Scramble Competition

abundant food, try to eat more than someone else 

Contest Competition

small patches of food, try to defend food by agression 

Dominance

the predictable relationship between individuals established via fighting or aggressive displays 

Matrilines

dominance hierarchies that form within female relationships 

Precopulatory

intrasexual competitive patterns like fighting and agility 

Postcopulatory

intrasexual competitive patterns like sperm competition, infanticide 

Infanticide

males can sometimes increase their own fitness by killing their rival's offspring and then mating with the female 

Cooperation

positive benefit to self, positive benefit to neighbor 

Altruism

negative cost to self, positive benefit to neighbor 

Selfishness

positive benefit to self, negative cost to neighbor 

Relatedness

the proportion of alleles shared between kin 

Reciprocal Altruism 

individuals who helped those who helped them 

Encephalization

the degree to which brain size exceeds the expected body size 

Bipedalism

diagnostic trait that defines all hominins 

Fossils

happenstance material evidence of past life 

Relative Dating

determining the age of a fossil in relation to others 

Chronometric Dating

determining the age of a fossil in a range of mya 

Bicondylar Angle

Carrying angle of the femur bone that helps position the leg directly under the body 

Longitudinal Arch

arch in human foot that helps to absorb shock and add spring  

Foramen Magnum

great hole in skull that centers the head on the spine 

Honing Complex

upper canine rubs against lower first premolar to sharpen teeth 

Prognathism

protrusion of face, not flat 

Taphonomy

study of what happens to something after it dies 

Osteodontokeratic

tool culture that uses bone-tooth-horn 

Basicranial Flexion

high flexion is associated with a longer vocal tract 

Hypoglossal Canal

hole where cranial nerve passes through from brain to tongue 

Complete Replacement Model

no interbreeding with existing hominids 

Partial Replacement Model

they did interbreed with existing hominids in these areas 

Regional Continuity Model

extensive gene flow

Regulatory Genes

the genes that influence and adjust the allele's response to environment, phenotypic plasticity 

Phenotypic Plasticity

ability to make beneficial physiological adjustments in phenotype in response to the environment 

Vasodilation

expansion of blood vessels and increased blood flow to the skin in response to heat 

Vasoconstriction

narrowing of blood vessels and reduced blood flow to the skin in response to cold 

Hypoxia

lack of oxygen in the body, high altitudes 

Melanin

produced by melanocytes  

Dolichocephalic

long, narrow head 

Brachycephalic

wide head 

Brain Stem

metabolic activities 

Cerebellum

balance, posture, movement 

Cerebrum

higher brain function, lobes 

Primary Cortex

regions involved with motor/sensory input 

Sulci

grooves on the brain 

Gyri

ridges on the brain 

Frontal Lobe

associated with analytical reasoning, cognition, memory, judgement, got larger 

Expensive Tissue Hypothesis

smaller gut means energy for brain, meat eating 

Radiator Hypothesis

brain uses lots of energy, can overheat, emissary veins help cool down 

Communication

any act that conveys information between individuals 

Language

system of communication used by humans 

FOXP2

a gene that is important in language and speech production 

Social Gossip

language functions to exchange social info about group members when group sizes are large 

Social Contract

language functions to establish contracts and social bonds among ancestral monogamous units

Social Flare

language evolved and functions as a means for males to attract females

Biocultural Evolution

cultural practices can influence patterns of genetic variation 

Vectors

agents that carry a disease 

Zoonotic

a disease that is transmitted to humans through contact with a nonhuman animal

Life Cycle

biologically relevant stages of development 

Maternal-Offspring Conflict

offspring will want more investment than parent is often willing to give 

Adrenarchy

release of a hormone from adrenal glands that helps shape the brain during juvenile period 

Senescence

deterioration of body function as we grow older 

Menopause

gradual cessation of the menstrual cycle subsequent to the loss of ovarian function 

Grandmother Hypothesis

menopause evolved to switch women from investing in their own offspring and investing in kin 

Antagonistic Pleiotropy

genes that are beneficial early in life can have an adverse affect later in life