ANTH 101 INQUISITIVE–WHAT IS PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY? – Flashcards
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Define Following -hypothesis -theory -law
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-a testable statement that attempts to explain an observation in the natural world -an explanation as to why a natural phenomenon takes place a statement of irrefutable truth regarding some action or actions that occur in the natural world
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How many branches, or subdisciplines, of anthropology are there?
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4; Cultural, Lingustic, Archeological, Biological/Physical
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What does it mean to say that science is empirical?
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It is based on evidence
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What makes humans different from other animals in terms of brains?
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Human brains are bigger and have more complex analytical skills than the brains of other animals. These biological adaptations enable us to figure out complex problems, including how to survive in a wide range of environments.
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Which of the following are examples of anthropological pursuits
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Anthropology is an extremely broad field of study! Remember, it is not limited to the perspective of any particular group of people. That means that the observations of 15th- and 16th-century European explorers were part of the anthropological enterprise, even if it was not yet fully developed as a discipline.
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What makes human learning particularly unique?
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- Humans pass information and culture from generation to generation.
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Which specific part of the human anatomy allows us the unique ability to produce speech?
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The hyoid bone, found in the neck
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What do physical anthropologists call the taxonomic group that includes humans and humanlike ancestors, excluding living nonhuman primates?
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Hominins
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Identify which of the following are characteristics of autolysis, putrefaction, or both
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Autolysis- breakdown of cells within the high-carbon-dioxide environment of the body Putrefaction- breakdown of tissues by microorganisms Both-The rate of decomposition varies widely depending on the temperature, humidity, availability of oxygen, exposure to sunlight, soil acidity and chemistry, and insect and animal activity
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What did Franz Boas contribute to the field of anthropology?
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-Boas brought together different perspectives in the study of human culture. -Boas trained the first generation of American academic anthropologists. - Boas laid the foundation for scientific anthropology.
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Approximately how many genes does the human genome include?
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20,000- 25,000
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The physical appearance of hominins and their descendants, including modern humans, has not changed over the past 6-8 million years.
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FALSE, it has changed
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Your biological makeup is strongly influenced by your environment. What does environment refer to in this context?
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- diseases you are exposed to - the climate you live in - how much money you family has for purchasing resources - day to day physical activities you engage in - type of food that is grown where you live (Activities that can change your history, physical traits)
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Anthropology differs from other disciplines in its commitment to the notion that, unlike other animals, humans are...?
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Both cultural and biological
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Why is the research done at the University of Tennessee's Anthropological Research Facility important? Body farms in general?
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- assists law enforcement officials with murder investigations - assists bio archeologists who study ancient remains on how body tissues decay or are preserved - The research fills a void in anthropological knowledge.
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What is an accurate definition of anthropology?
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Anthropology is the study of humankind, viewed from the perspectives of all people and all times.
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What would be considered biological or social science?
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Biological--deals with the collection or assessment of biological information such as genetic information, measuring bones, spread of disease, comparing dental records, etc. Social--how information is spread, cultural like how a family divides food for a meal, disease spreading through members contact, and how mothers breastfeed
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Order of hypotheses on bipedalism
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1) Darwin proposes bipedalism is linked from shift from life in trees to life on ground 2) First hominins arose in open African grasslands from an ape-like mammals that was formerly arboreal (from trees) 3) Early hominins lived in woodlands and spent time in tree branches moving from limb to limb
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Why did our ancestors' honing canine disappear?
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They developed ability to make and use tools for processing food
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Forensic anthropology is the scientific examination of skeletons in hope of identifying who they were in life. To which of the following subdisciplines does forensic anthropology belong
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Physical Anthropology
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List big events of human evolution in chronological order
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6 mya--Bipedalism becomes habit 5 mya--nonhoning chewing appeared (no projecting canines or diastema) 2.5 mya-- changes in hyoid make speech possible, material culture and tool also appear at this time 1 mya-- hunting becomes prominent 11 tya-- domestication of plants and animals
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What is the difference between the hunting of animals and hunting humans did?
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Humans: - travel long distances to reach prey - no group is required to hunt -activity is highly organized, strategies and tools used
