Modern Human Variation 2

Question 1

human adaptability

Answer 1

• have high phenotypic diversity
• however there is very little genetic diversity on modern H. sapiens; have less variation than closest primitive relatives despite larger population size

Question 2

gene x environmental interactions

Answer 2

• phenotypes result from genotype and environmental interactions

Question 3

what is a driver of change in human adaptability

Answer 3

• stress
• homeostasis

Question 4

homeostasis

Answer 4

any self-regulating process by which an organism tends to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are best for its survival

Question 5

responding to external factors/challenges

Answer 5

• behavioural
• cultural
• genetic

Question 6

acclimatization

Answer 6

• individual level
• short term
• Reversible

Question 7

adaptation

Answer 7

• population level
• long term/evolutionary

Question 8

Developmental/phenotypic plasticity of human adaptability

Answer 8

• individual level
• adaptive process
• short-term or long-term

Question 9

behavioural and cultural of human adaptability

Answer 9

• population and individual level
• long-term

Question 10

growth and development

Answer 10

• adaptation and plasticity
• secular trends
• developmental process and landmarks
• growth; hyperplasia , hypertrophy

Question 11

hyperplasia

Answer 11

a process that involves the increase in cell production in a normal tissue or organ, and can occur during development and maturation

Question 12

hypertrophy

Answer 12

increase in size of cells or tissues in response to various stimuli, including exercise and injury

Question 13

anthropometry

Answer 13

the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body

Question 14

scammon curves

Answer 14

tracking growth of different parts of the body

Question 15

distance curves/height-for-age

Answer 15

• a graph that shows the height or other growth achieved at a given age
• growth reference standards; standard deviation
• normal growth = 0 SD
  stunting = -2 SD or lower

Question 16

weight for age curves

Answer 16

• attainment of weight relative to age
• growth reference standards
• underweight = -2 SD
• also measured relative to height; wasting, overweight

Question 17

endocrine system and hormones

Answer 17

• cortisol
• growth hormones (pituitary gland)
• sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen)

Question 18

onset of puberty

Answer 18

• 8-9 for females
• 10-11 for males
• development and emergency of secondary sexual characteristics

Question 19

factors that comprimize growth

Answer 19

• nutrition; quality, quantity
• stress; disease loads, psychosocial and socioeconomic stress

Question 20

developmental/phenotypic plasticity of growth and development

Answer 20

• environmental influences
• moderation of growth and development
• variable responses between individuals

Question 21

nutrition in growth and development

Answer 21

• macronutrient deficieny; kwashiorkor, marasmus
• comprimises in height and weight; stunting, wasting
• micronutrient deficiency; lack of vitamins and minerals

Question 22

Disease in growth and development

Answer 22

• infectious disease ex. cholera

Question 23

stress in growth and development

Answer 23

• psychosocial or socioeconomic stress
• ex. marginalization, poverty

Question 24

genetic variation in growth and development

Answer 24

• growth hormone deficiencies
• excess growth

Question 25

can we recover after a negative episode?

Answer 25

- catch-up growth - compensation varies with timing of stressors

Question 26

when is growth and development the most important

Answer 26

- first 1000 days - critical window in terms of growth and development - early life influences have later life impacts

Question 27

climate

Answer 27

- range of responses to climate variation; acclimation, adaptation

Question 28

cold stress acclimation

Answer 28

- vasoconstriction to conserve hear - skin/hair reactions - shivering thermogenesis - hunting phenomenon - behaviour: cold mitigation/avoidance

Question 29

hunting phenomenom

Answer 29

phenomenon that occurs in the skin when it's exposed to cold. It's characterized by alternating vasoconstriction and vasodilation in the extremities

Question 30

heat stress acclimation

Answer 30

- vasodilation; radiation, convection, conduction - sweating (evaporation)

Question 31

climate adaptation bergmann's rule

Answer 31

- size/body mass - animals adapted to colder climates are larger, while those adapted to warmer climates are smaller

Question 32

climate adaptation allen'a rule

Answer 32

- shape/limb length - animals adapted to colder climates have shorter and thicker limbs compared to animals in warmer climates

Question 33

issues with bergmann's and allen's rule

Answer 33

- katzmarzyk and leonard - was there research bias? northern hemisphere and wealthier countries - can change in nutrition also have effect ex. edo individuals with a larger body size lose less heat from the hands than those with a smaller body size? do individuals with more muscle mass or more fat mass lose less heat from the hands? result: skeletal muscle mass relative to body mass was a highly significant predictor of heat loss, body/fat mass and stature were not

Question 34

altitude

Answer 34

changes at greater altitude have implications for human body functions; barometric pressure, hypoxia

Question 35

altitude sickness

Answer 35

- hyperventilation - changed sleep patterns - increased urination - headache - loss of appetite - nausea - fatigue

Question 36

other challenges of altitude

Answer 36

- uv radiation - cold temperature - low humidity - resource losses

Question 37

altitude acclimation

Answer 37

- red blood cell numbers increase - haemoglobin encouraged to release more oxygen - increase in cardiac output - increase in capillary network - hyperventilation - cellular metabolic changes

Question 38

physiological adaptions of altitude in different climates

Answer 38

- tibet: increased blood flow with low oxygen saturation - andes: respiration and haemoglobin increases - ethiopia: oxygen uptake and delivery