ANT101H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Allele Frequency, Melanocyte, Sunscreen
Document Summary
Ant101: chapter 4 modern human variation and. The concept of race: all contemporary humans are members of the same polytypic species, homo sapiens, a polytypic species is composed of local populations that differ in the expression of one or more traits. Contemporary interpretations of human variation: because the physical characteristics that are used to define race are polygenic, pre(cid:272)isely (cid:373)easuri(cid:374)g the ge(cid:374)eti(cid:272) i(cid:374)flue(cid:374)(cid:272)e o(cid:374) the(cid:373) has(cid:374)"t (cid:271)ee(cid:374) possi(cid:271)le. Human polymorphisms: traits that differ in expression between populations and individuals are called polymorphisms, a genetic trait is polymorphic if the locus that governs it has two or more alleles. Human biocultural evolution: we define culture as the human strategy of adaptation, humans live in cultural environments that are continually modified by their own activities; thus, evolutionary processes are under stand able only within a cultural context. This response occurs in all humans except albinos, who have a genetic mutation that prevents their melanocytes from producing melanin.
