Anthropology 1026F/G Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Summary and Defs Understanding Humans
Document Summary
Our current understanding of evolutionary processes is directly traceable to developments in intellectual thought in western europe over the last 300 years. Lyell in his theory of uniformitarianiam provided the necessary expanse of time for evolution to occur and. Malthus discussed how population size is kept in check by the availability of resources. Natural selection: the most critical mechanism of evolutionary change that was first articulated by charles. Darwin, refers to genetic change or changes in the frequencies of certain traits in populations due to differential reproductive success between individuals. Fixity of species: the notion that species once created can never change, an idea diametrically opposed to theories of biological evolution. Binomial nomenclature: in taxonomy the convention established by carolus linnaeus whereby genus and species names are used to refer to species. Taxonomy: the branch of science concerned with the rules of classifying organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationships.