Chapter 4 Study Guide

1. What process is considered the ultimate source of all genetic variation?

Mutation, the changes in the structure of a gene, is the process that is
considered the ultimate source of all genetic variation.
2. What is an adaptation? How does this work?
An adaptation is a genetic change that gives their carriers a better chance
to survive and reproduce than individuals without this genetic change who
live in the same environment.
3. What is acclimatization? What are two types of acclimatizations?
Acclimatization involves physiological adjustments in individuals to
environmental conditions. It is not genetic.
The two types of acclimatization are short-term and long-term.
4. How does culture allow humans to modify our environment? Give 3 examples
listed.
Culture allows humans to modify our environment by:
Living in houses
Harnessing energy to create heat
Wearing clothing to insulate the body
5. Who developed the theories that explain body build and facial construction
differences variation seen in birds and mammals?
Bergmann and Allen
6. What are the two theories that explain this variation?
Bergmanns rule and Allens rule
7. Give an example of Bergmanns rule at work.
The slenderer populations of a species inhabit warmer parts of its
geographic range; the more robust populations inhabit the cooler areas

8. Give an example of Allens rule at work.

Protruding body parts are relatively shorter in cooler areas of a species

range than in warmer areas.
9. What rule explains the variation in skin color of modern humans?
Glogers Rule.
10. Explain how Glogers rule works.
Glogers Rule states that populations of birds and mammals living in
warmer climates have more melanin and therefore darker skin, fur or
feathers than do populations of the same species living in cooler areas.
11. What group of individuals demonstrates an exception to this rule?
Native Americans are lighter than expected.
12. What is hypoxia?
Oxygen deficiency
13. What key physical feature can be seen in individuals who live at high altitudes?
Larger chests
14. Is this feature genetic or a byproduct of the environment?
This feature is a byproduct of the environment. It is caused by
acclimatization.
15. What environmental influences play a role in determining an individuals height?
Temperature differences, poor nutrition, disease, and emotional/physical
stress during infancy.
16. During World War II what factors contributed to the decline of childrens overall
stature?
Poor nutrition and stress
17. Can children who are malnourished or diseased before the ages of 3 ever expect to
achieve maximum height?
No, stature at age 18 will be reduced.

18. What were the results of the study that exposed rats to frequent handling by
humans?
Rats that were frequently handled grew to be longer and heavier than rats
that were not handled. Frequent handling may have been a stressful
situation.
19. How does this study correlate with height in humans?
Many cultures have physically stressful events for children which might
also create greater adult height.
20. Give examples of studies in humans that support the stress hypothesis in height
determination of children.
Gray and Wolfes analysis on adult height factors
Landauer and Whitings studies on vaccination
21. What is sickle cell anemia and in what demographic group is it prevalently found?
Sickle-cell anemia is an abnormality of the red blood cells
It affects mainly Africans, Greeks, Sicilians, Southern India
22. How do individuals who are heterozygous for sickle cell anemia have a
reproductive advantage over those individuals who are homozygous for sickle cell
anemia?
Heterozygous individuals are more resistant to attacks of malaria.
23. What are the four key pieces of evidence that support the malaria theory?
1. Geographic comparisons show sickle-cell is found more often in areas
with malaria
2. As land is opened for agriculture the incidence of sickle-cell increases.
3. Children who are heterozygous for sickle-cell have fewer malarial
parasites.
4. If there is no balancing selection because malaria is no longer present,
we find a rapid decline in the incidence of sickle-cell.
24. What enzyme is responsible for breaking down lactose?
Lactase I
25. What is lactase deficiency?

The inability to digest milk properly.

26. What parts of the world is lactase deficiency found?
Southeast and East Asia, India, the Mediterranean, the Near East, subSaharan Africa and Native North and South Americans.
27. In what type of society would you expect NOT to find lactase deficiency? Why?
Dairying populations, or people who create dairy products, should have a
high population of individuals with the ability to break down lactose.
28. Why do anthropologists generally steer away from using the term race in its
application to humans?
Fistfights, riots and civil wars have all stemmed from tensions and
misunderstandings about race.
29. Why is racial classification problematic?
Racial classifications have been used to justify discrimination,
exploitation, and even extermination of certain categories of people.
30. Is race a social construct or a scientific category?
Race, when applied to humans, is a social category, not a scientific one.
31. What are the two criticisms in regards to the genetic interpretations of the IQ test?
Two criticisms are:
1. IQ tests are not an accurate measure of intelligence. The results
are skewed in favor of the subculture who constructs the test.
2. IQ tests can be influenced by the social environment.
32. Do you agree with Theodosius Dobzhanskys position on IQ tests? Why or why
not?
Bobzhansky believes that all people should be able to develop whatever
gifts or aptitudes they possess and choose to develop. This is in line with
modern education theory which states that there are multiple intelligences
and no single test can accurately measure all intelligences into a single test
or number.