ANTHR209 Study Guide - Final Guide: Human Y-Chromosome Dna Haplogroup, Paranthropus Aethiopicus, Microcephaly
5 Dec 2012
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Document Summary
Biological anthropology uses a biocultural approach, which looks at adaptation and variation. Primate paleontology studies the fossil ancestors of non-human primates. Humans adapt both physically and culturally to our environment. Analogy - used to reconstruct aspects of biology, appearance & behavior of past organisms. We use our observations of modern organisms to make inferences about the past. Variation it is important in understanding current adaptations, evolutionary history, and in reconstructing individuals. Fixity of species the idea that the world is unchanging. The concept of fixity of species is prevalent. God creates all life; therefore, it is perfect. Great chain of being organisms are ranked from simple to complex. Predictably, humans were placed at the top underneath god and angels. This system had the inadvertent effect of ranking according to worth. The renaissance showed a marked shift from valuing faith/tradition to valuing observations. Roman naturalists, with growing interest in observing the natural world promoted the break down of the.
