Physical Anthropology (Pages 38-45)

1. What does being human mean to you? How are we different than other animals?

-We are different from other animals by our intelligence (complex reasoning and problem solving)

-we walk upright on two legs-called bipedal locomotion. Not too many mammals do this!

-We also have a sophisticated communication system.

-We have been able to develop and master very complex tools.

-In other ways, we are very animalistic in nature. Especially when emotions such as love, fear, and joy are involved.

2. In the Age of Exploration, many new plants and animals were discovered. What were Carolus Linnaeus’ ideas about the living world? How did his religious views influence his ideas? Why do you think it was important for a classification system to be developed before a formal study of various species can take place?

Carolus Linnaeus believed he should organize plants and animals based on their anatomical structure. He also stated that animals were

fixed and could not change. He thought that God made the world perfect and therefore could not evolve. His ideas changed when he observed the crossbreeding of plants. A classification system is needed to be able to see all of the different living organisms, chart the similarities, and differences and then formal comparison can be made using a similar format.

3. What did the discoveries of Jacques Boucher de Crevecoeur prove?

Jacques Boucher found artifacts, stone axes, that were made by primitive humans. Since tools are much more advanced, de Crevecoeur concluded that evolution must have occurred.

4. What arguments have some religions used to oppose evolution? List any others that you have heard or read about that are not in the textbook. (We will debate evolutionism vs creationism at the end!)

READ ARTICLE “EVOLUTION WARS” TO COMPLETE THIS QUESTION

5. Describe Darwin’s travels to the Galapagos Islands as well as his observations and conclusions of the finches. Why were the islands a good place for his observations?

http://science.discovery.com/video-topics/earth-science/galapagos-beyond-darwin-charles-darwin.htm

WRITE NOTES ON THIS-IT IS A TEST QUESTION!!!

6. Define natural selection and survival of the fittest.

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_25

Natural Selection-There is a limited food supply (a competition of resources-Survival of the Fittest) and the species that best adapt to the environment and pass those adaptations down to successive generations will continue to survive.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/other-shows/videos/assignment-discovery-shorts-darwin-best-adapted.htm

7. How did Darwin’s description of the finches support his theory of survival of the fittest?

The finches demonstrated that adaptation does occur. That several of the same finches changed their appearance to gain an advantage in obtaining food. Smaller, harder beaks to eat the nuts on the mainland, longer, pointer beaks to eat the food between the rocks on the sea coast.

8. How does the study of genetics prove evolution?

Today, we have mapped DNA-the basic building blocks of all living organisms. By mapping DNA we can see where animals are similar and different (ie we are 93-99% similar to primates). We can see which traits are dominant and which are recessive. We

can extract DNA from fossils.

http://science.discovery.com/tv-shows/greatest-discoveries/videos/100-greatest-discoveries-shorts-genetics.htm

9. How have paleoanthropologists found further human proof of evolution?

Paleoanthropologists have found countless fossils that, when reconstructed, make up a fossil record in which you can see the changes from a primate like animal to a more human looking species. SOME OF US STILL LOOK AND ACT PRIMITIVE-LOL

10. Create T chart and write arguments for evolution and refuting evolution (doubts about the theory)

BOTH #10 AND #11 ARE DUE ON THURSDAY-A ONE PAGE WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE “EVOLUTION WARS”

11. What are your thoughts about our origins? Where did we come from? How did we get here and how did we become the people we are today? Lol not the birth story! Make sure you give evidence to support your opinion.

Extension (for another day or extra work)

Page 44 #s 1 and 2

Page 46 and 46 1 -3