Unit 2 lesson 1History of Physical AnthropologyPhysical anthropology is the study of human physical characteristics. Physical anthropologists may study modern cultures or fossil remains to learn how human characteristics developed. The term human is generally used in the scientific field to indicate members of the Homo genus including any extinct or existing species in the Hominidae family.Theory
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Unit 2 lesson 1
History of Physical Anthropology
Physical anthropology is the study of human physical characteristics. Physical anthropologists may study modern cultures or fossil remains to learn how human characteristics developed.
The term human is generally used in the scientific field to indicate members of the Homo genus including any extinct or existing species in the Hominidae family.
Theory of Genetics
The Origin of Species, written by Charles Darwin, was published in 1859. The theory of evolution became the main theme and focus of the time period from 1859 to 1900.
Anthropometry was used to measure living human beings for the purpose of classification and comparison of human races. Primates and all human races were placed in a segmented arrangement that extended back into prehistory. Historically on an anthropological level, the term race was used to differentiate and categorize (taxonomy) biologically distinct characteristics.
Various human races were categorized according to their perceived level of cultural development. Some were considered more advanced than others. Differences between humans and primates were also documented.
Scientists in the 1800s believed that the classification of races had been completed by the end of the century. However, the work of the late nineteenth century changed dramatically in 1900 with two major developments in physical anthropology.
The first event was the rediscovery of Gregor Mendel's theory of genetics. Mendel completed his research on heredity in 1865, but it remained unknown to much of the scientific community.
The second major event was the discovery of the ABO blood types. These two events caused scientists to rethink the scientific work of the nineteenth century. The importance of physical traits and genetic theory became the focus of scientific research. The concepts of the theory of evolution were challenged and the idea of the missing link was essentially abandoned.
Modern Physical Anthropology
The discovery of remains in Africa in the 1900s revealed valuable information about the physical development of humans. There are currently four main areas of study in physical anthropology.
Human ecology is the study of how mankind relates to its environment. A human ecologist would be interested in how the environment affects population size.
Another area of focus for research is human evolution. The examination of fossil remains may shed new light on the development of humans.
Primatology and genetics are the third and fourth areas of research. The study of DNA will continue to reveal valuable information about the development of humans.
Other areas of study that are related to physical anthropology include the following:
Paleoanthropology is the study of humans from prehistory to the modern world.
Paleontology is the study of the development of life on earth, including plants and animals.
Primatology is the study of how primates such as apes and monkeys are related to the development of human beings.
Osteology is the scientific study of the human skeleton.
Paleopathology is the study of human skeletons to determine the presence of disease or injuries, which also traces disease and injury in human skeletons.
Forensic anthropology is the use of modern scientific procedures in a court of law to determine the identification of deceased individuals.
| Question 1 | | 1 / 1 point
Use the word bank to answer the following question.
| Word Bank
| paleoanthropology | paleontology | paleopathology
| anthropometry | osteology | primatology
| forensic anthropology
What is the study of humans from prehistory to the modern time?
________
___paleoanthropology___
| Question 2 | | 1 / 1 point
Use the word bank to answer the following question.
| Word Bank
| paleoanthropology | paleontology | paleopathology
| anthropometry | osteology | primatology
| forensic anthropology
What is the study of the development of life on earth including plants and animals?
________
___paleontology___
| Question 3 | | 1 / 1 point
Use the word bank to answer the following question.
| Word Bank
| paleoanthropology | paleontology | paleopathology
| anthropometry | osteology | primatology
| forensic anthropology
What is the study of human of skeletons to determine the presence of disease or injuries?
________
___paleopathology___
| Question 4 | | 1 / 1 point
Use the word bank to answer the following question.
| Word Bank
| paleoanthropology | paleontology | paleopathology
| anthropometry | osteology | primatology
| forensic anthropology
What is the study of how primates such as apes and monkeys are related to the development of human beings?
________
___primatology___
| Question 5 | | 1 / 1 point
Use the word bank to answer the following question.
| Word Bank
| paleoanthropology | paleontology | paleopathology
| anthropometry | osteology | primatology
| forensic anthropology
What is the scientific study of the human skeleton?
________
___osteology___
| Question 6 | | 1 / 1 point
Use the word bank to answer the following question.
| Word Bank
| paleoanthropology | paleontology | paleopathology
| anthropometry | osteology | primatology
| forensic anthropology
What is the use of modern scientific procedures in a court of law to determine the identification of deceased individuals?
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