Anthropology 1020E Lecture Notes - Rat Flea, Anopheles, Balancing Selection
Document Summary
Scala naturae the great chain of being. Concept can be traced to ancient greece (plato), and continued to be developed into the 19th century. Ladder of intellect: god, angel, heaven, human, beast, plant, flame, stone. Still using carolus linnaeus" foundation of modern taxonomic nomenclature. Nothing in biology makes sense, except the light of evolution . All mammals produce the enzyme lactase, until the time of weaning. Enzyme needed to digest the sugar lactose in milk. This is an example of natural selection in response to cultural tendencies. Hb5 hb5 homozygous individuals produce abnormal rbcs that do not carry oxygen efficiently. Some carry one normal one not, and then pass on through gene pool. Estimated to have between 30-60% of europe"s population (75-100 mil) The need to avoid excess solar radiation as it causes skin cancer. Various ways to define skin colour: adaptive to solar radiation blood type: adaptive to diseases stature/body build.