Lecture Slides

THIRD EDITION

Essentials of Physical

Anthropology

Clark Spencer Larsen

Biology in the Present: Living People

• Larsen. Essentials of Physical Anthropology

5

Biology in the Present: Living People

• Questions addressed in this chapter: – Is race a valid, biologically meaningful concept? – What do growth and development tell us about human

variation? – What are the benefits of our life history pattern? – How do people adapt to their environment?

Chris Fitzgerald/ CandidatePhotos/ The Image Works

Debunking the Race Concept

• Blumenbach

– Typological classification

• Franz Boas

– Biological process

• R. C. Lewontin

– Genetic variation does not follow racial categorization

• Clines

Reprinted by permission of the New

York Public Library/Art Resource, NY

Life History: Growth and Development

• Fertilization • Prenatal stage

– 3 trimesters; 9+ months

• Postnatal stage – Neonatal (month 1) – Infancy (month 2, weaning) – Childhood (3–7 years) – Juvenile (7–12 years) – Puberty – Adolescence (post

puberty)

• Adult stage – Reproductive period – Senescence

Life History: Growth and Development

• Growth velocity

• Infancy

– Deciduous dentition

– Weaning

– Motor skills

– Cognitive abilities

Pete Saloutos/ Media Bakery

Life History: Growth and Development

SPL/ Science Source

Life History: Growth and Development

• Epiphysis

• Diaphysis

• Growth plate

Neil Borden/ Science Source Gwen Robbins, Appalachian State University

Life History: Secular Trend

Barbara Piperata

Life History: Aging and Senescence

Biophoto Associates/ Science Source

Sonya Farrell/ Getty Images

Life History Stages in Humans

Adaptation: Meeting the Challenges of Living

• Four levels of adaptation

– Genetic

– Developmental (ontogenetic)

– Acclimatization (physiological)

– Cultural (behavioral)

• Functional adaptations

Climate Adaptation: Heat Stress • Vasodilation

• Sweating & hairlessness

• Body shape: Bergmann & Allen’s rules

Climate Adaptation: Cold Stress

• Vasoconstriction

• Shivering

• Elevated BMR

• Clothing & shelter

Climate Adaptation: Skin Coloration

Topical Press Agency/ Getty Images

Climate Adaptation: Skin Coloration

• UV radiation helps synthesize vitamin D

– Necessarily for proper skeletal development

• UV radiation depletes folic acid

– Necessary for DNA synthesis & spinal development

Climate Adaptation: High Altitudes

Cynthia Beall

Climate Adaptation in Humans

Nutritional Adaptation

• Basal metabolic requirement • Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) • Macronutrients

– Carbohydrates, proteins, fats

• Micronutrients – Vitamins & minerals

Nutritional Adaptation: Malnutrition

David Turnley/ Corbis

Nutritional Adaptation: Overnutrition

• Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)

• Type 2 diabetes

Skeletal Adaptation

AP Photo/ Bill Kostroun

Lecture Slides

Essentials of Physical Anthropology

Clark Spencer Larsen

THIRD EDITION