18 Questions
How did the shift from foraging to farming affect the Indian child's teeth on the Georgia coast?
The later child who ate more corn had more cavities.
What negative consequences can result from infants and children receiving poor-quality nutrition in a disadvantaged social environment?
Poor health, reduced height, and shortened life expectancy
What do physical anthropologists study in terms of populations?
Living people, extinct species, and our nearest biological relatives like primates.
Where do physical anthropologists travel to in order to study past societies?
Museum collections and archaeological localities.
Why do people outside the field find physical anthropology odd or bizarre?
Because of the focus on studying dead people, old bones, and teeth.
What are some immediate circumstances that can affect an individual's condition according to physical anthropologists?
Diet, exposure to disease, and day-to-day living stresses.
What are two key concepts that underlie the definition mentioned in the text?
Evolutionary history and individual life history
What methods and theories do physical anthropologists apply in their work?
Physical anthropologists apply methods and theories developed in other disciplines as well as in their own.
When did the earliest human ancestors, hominins, in Africa date back to?
Around 6-8 million years ago
How do physical anthropologists utilize the work of geologists in their research?
They use the work of geologists to study landforms and layering of deposits to determine the time periods in which earlier humans lived.
What factors have contributed to the dramatic changes in the physical appearance of hominins and their descendants?
Evolutionary changes driven by genes
How many genes are estimated to be included in the human genome?
20,000-25,000 genes
In what way do paleontologists contribute to the understanding of physical anthropology?
Paleontologists study the evolution of life-forms in the distant past, providing essential context for understanding the world in which earlier humans lived.
How do physical anthropologists trained in chemistry use their skills in studying earlier humans?
They analyze the chemical properties of bones and teeth to determine the types of foods consumed by earlier humans.
What does the term 'environment' refer to concerning an individual's biological makeup?
All factors affecting an individual's development
In what scenario might physical anthropologists collaborate with physiologists?
Physical anthropologists might work with physiologists to study how living humans adapt to reduced-oxygen environments, like in the high altitudes of the Peruvian Andes.
How do social and cultural factors influence an individual's biological makeup according to the text?
By shaping the environment an individual is exposed to
What is the significance of physical anthropologists practicing an interdisciplinary science?
Practicing an interdisciplinary science allows physical anthropologists to have a holistic approach to studying human evolution and adaptation.
Explore the impact of social and cultural factors on physical anthropology, such as nutrition, height, and life expectancy. Learn how environment can influence health outcomes and genetic adaptation.
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