The Anthropological Answer:

Genetics and Environment

1) Genetic Factors

Individual development is determined genetically ( examine process from birth to adolescence to adulthood)

All humans go through the genetic cycle of cell development and division

Genes are programmed at birth to initiate all stages of physical, mental, and emotional development.

2) Environmental Factors:

Anthropologist's believe that there are slight environmental factors that can contribute to slight variations in the genetic program.

Humans and animals had to adapt to there surroundings when faced with a new environment. These adjustments were not genetic but environmental.

(ie. Adapt shelters, food, tools)

Behavioural Adjustments: Are cultural responses to the environmental stresses. People are forced to adjust to their environment

▪ People in the north adjust to the climate and weather by wearing certain types of clothes, building certain types of shelters ( Igloo), finding suitable food sources.

Acclimation Adjustments: are reversible physiological changes to environmental stress.

These refer to how the human body adapts to climate changes.

Example 1: In the arctic, humans are very susceptible to the cold, which could result in hypothermia. But we don’t get it?? Why? The body responds to this climatic stress by adjusting its basal metabolic rate to stay warmer

Example 2: In the deserts, our bodies can acclimatize by producing more sweat, resulting in evaporation and cooling.

Questions?

1. What is the difference between behavioural and acclimation adjustment?

2. How can an environmental factor, such as living in a large city or a small rural town, influence individual and cultural change?

3. How could current potential environmental factors such as a diminishing ozone layer affect us in the future? (ie. Shelters, clothing)

4. Choose a natural disaster and explain at least 5 adjustments changes that would need to made. Note whether these changes are behavioural or acclimation adjustments.

Feral Children

a human child who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, and has no (or little) experience of human care, loving or social behavior, and, crucially, of human language

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyqbnDjId7g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STn3bpTTU6c