Anthropology 101 chapter 2 – Flashcards
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binomial nomenclature
(binomial, meaning "two names")
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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.
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biological continuity
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A biological continuum. When expressions of a phenomenon continuously grade into one another so that there are no discrete categories, they exist on a continuum. Color is one such phenomenon, and life-forms are another.
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catastrophism
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The view that the earth's geological landscape is the result of violent cataclysmic events. Cuvier promoted this view, especially in opposition to Lamarck.
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Christian fundamentalists
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Adherents to a movement in American Protestantism that began in the early twentieth century. This group holds that the teachings of the Bible are infallible and that the scriptures are to be taken literally.
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fertility
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The ability to conceive and produce healthy offspring.
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fitness
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Pertaining to natural selection, a measure of the relative reproductive success of individuals. Fitness can be measured by an individual's genetic contribution to the next generation compared with that of other individuals. The terms genetic fitness, reproductive fitness, and differential reproductive success are also used.
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fixity of species
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The notion that species, once created, can never change; an idea diametrically opposed to theories of biological evolution.
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genome
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The entire genetic makeup of an individual or species.
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natural selection
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The most critical mechanism of evolutionary change, first described by Charles Darwin; refers to genetic change or changes in the frequencies of certain traits in populations due to differential reproductive success between individuals.
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reproductive success
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The number of offspring an individual produces and rears to reproductive age; an individual's genetic contribution to the next generation.
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reproductively isolated
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Pertaining to groups of organisms that, mainly because of genetic differences, are prevented from mating and producing offspring with members of other such groups. For example, dogs cannot mate and produce offspring with cats.
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selective pressures
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Forces in the environment that influence reproductive success in individuals.
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taxonomy
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The branch of science concerned with the rules of classifying organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationships.
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uniformitarianism
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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 Lyell, this theory opposed catastrophism and contributed strongly to the concept of immense geological time.
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What is the belief that species do not change but are the same as when first created known as?
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Fixity of species
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Growing attacks on traditional beliefs resulted with growing awareness of biological diversity. ________ challenged a notion proposed by Aristotle to account for the movement of the sun and planets.
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Copernicus
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Several events had combined to alter Western Europeans' ideas about the earth by the 18th century. These did not include
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a less than rigid feudal class system
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________ first recognized that species were groups of organisms that were distinguished from other such groups by their ability to mate wi
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John Ray
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Charles Darwin was not the only one to conceive of natural selection. Who published an article suggesting current species were descended from other species?
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Alfred Russel Wallace
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Who coined the term "biology"?
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Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
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What is the term for the theory stating that characteristics acquired during the lifetime of an individual could be passed on to that individual's offspring?
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use-disuse theory
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Thomas Malthus did not
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argue against limits to human population growth
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________ proposed that population size increases at a faster rate than food supplies.
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Thomas Malthus
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Which concept, proposed by Charles Lyell, had a profound effect on 19th century scientific thought?
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The immense age of the earth
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In formulating his theory of natural selection, Darwin did not
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claim that favorable variations would tend to be destroyed, unfavorable ones be preserved.
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Which of the following concepts did NOT influence Darwin in developing his theory of evolution?
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Species are unchanging types, and individual variation within a species is not important.
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Darwin
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Was reluctant to publish his theories.
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Regarding the example of the peppered moth, which of the following is not true?
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The dark is more visible on the trees darkened by pollution.
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Which is the best example of natural selection?
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the recent increase in resistant strains of disease-causing microorganisms
