ANTH 1006 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Folk Taxonomy, Albinism, Biological Anthropology
Document Summary
Age of exploration: europe became aware of extent of human biological variation, introduced concept of race. Polygenist school- different peoples encountered were in fact different species. Monogenist school- we are all one species, variability unsolved , development of concept of race. Biological races: variability seen in typological terms, types of humans. Biological anthropology became involved in developing correct racial distinctions. Folk taxonomies have more to do with social behaviors than scientific fact. Biological race: population differing in frequency of certain alleles from other populations within same species. We rely on phenotypic characteristics because we cannot observe allele makeup. Typologies are seen as static, stable divisions in humankind even though gene frequencies are always changing. Gene flow reduces genetic variation between populations in the long run. Early anthropologists were looking for statistical averages to define differences. Vitamin d helps maintain healthy bones, proper functioning of the heart, nervous, and immune systems.
