ANT100Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Gregor Mendel, Her Majesty'S Ship, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte De Buffon
24/09/2015
ANT100 Lecture 1
Eolutio is aout…geology, water, climate, life.
What is Evolutionary Anthro?
Application of modern evo theory to studies of morphology, ecology, and behaviour of human
and non-human primates.
5 Research Disciplines:
1. Primatology the scientific study of non-human primates (primates are just like us!).
2. Paleoanthropology multidisciplinary study of bio evolution of humans and non-
human primates, advent of and changes in human cultural activities, evolutionary
history of behaviours in human and non-human primates (we are not the end of
evolution, we are still changing!).
Evolution is highly variable, not linear or goal-orieted…
3. Human Variation spatial and temporal variations in human features (Ex. geographic
and climatic variations in body size, skin colour, and eye colour).
4. Medical Anthro how social, environmental, and bio factors influence health and
illness of individuals at the community, regional, national, and global levels (What does
it mean to be sick/healthy?).
5. Forensic Anthro focuses on skeletal remains of humans, forensic anthropologists
seek to determine age, sex, structure, ancestry.
Major Questions About Humans And Our Bio:
• How does evo work and how does it apply to us?
• What are bio characteristics of our species?
• What is a physical record of our evo?
• How do evo anthropologists conduct their research?
State problem
Gather info
Form a hypothesis
Test hypothesis
Record and analyze data
State the conclusion
Repeat the work
4 Problems—Limited Development of Theory of Evo:
1. Lack of knowledge on age of earth
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find more resources at oneclass.com
24/09/2015
One claim = In 1650, the earth was created on the afternoon of October 23, 4004
B.C. (this was accepted by the church and was held as secular and religious law)
2. Religious concept of fixity of species
By 8th century, scientists say living things created in present form (species were
unchanging and distinct from each other
3. Lack of sci method
Many ideas and concepts based on singular observations or fanciful accounts of
other travellers
4. Religious notion of separate creation for humans and animals
Religious doctrine that God created humans separate from and over animals
(huas ade i God’s iage, so ore diiity tha aials—processes that
work on animals wont work on humans)
***these are wrong, because if we had been created as we are by a supreme being, then we
ould’t hage—anthro/evo is based on change.
Carolus Linneas:
• 1st comprehensive classification system for living things
• each living thing named a separate species
• on basis of physical resemblances, species grouped together into broader categories
called genera
• binomial Nomenclature First letter of genus is capitalized, like—Homo; species
designation always in lowercase, like—sapiens
Scala naturae = Nature’s Ladder
Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon:
• Earth’s history is older tha ,000 years (laied ,000)—Major issue with contemp
religious authorities
• Founded biogeography: despite similar environments, different regions have distinct
plants and animals
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck:
• Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics: ital fores ithi reatures help the to
adapt to the environment and change, which can be passed on to offspring
• Acquire traits: developed through use or disuse, passed on to future generations
• First ever to speak of passing on traits—widely accepted in sci community
Charles Darwin:
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find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Application of modern evo theory to studies of morphology, ecology, and behaviour of human and non-human primates. 4 problems limited development of theory of evo: lack of knowledge on age of earth. One claim = in 1650, the earth was created on the afternoon of october 23, 4004. B. c. (this was accepted by the church and was held as secular and religious law: religious concept of fixity of species. By 8th century, scientists say living things created in present form (species were unchanging and distinct from each other: lack of sci method. Many ideas and concepts based on singular observations or fanciful accounts of other travellers: religious notion of separate creation for humans and animals. Religious doctrine that god created humans separate from and over animals (hu(cid:373)a(cid:374)s (cid:373)ade i(cid:374) god"s i(cid:373)age, so (cid:373)ore di(cid:448)i(cid:374)ity tha(cid:374) a(cid:374)i(cid:373)als processes that work on animals wont work on humans)
