Define evolution using the following website Human Evolution Timeline Interactive | The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program (si.edu)
The Smithsonian's Human Origin Field Research is a program that explores humans' evolution through lab and field research. The program explores that the evolution process entails a series of changes that occur naturally to different organisms or populations in order to adapt to the environment. According to the program, research is based on the concept that evolution is a result of a change in genetic materials, chemical molecules, and DNA. Evolution, therefore, does not cause change to a single person ("Human evolution timeline interactive," 2019) . Instead, it leads to changes in the means of development and growth that identify a particular population. The Smithsonian program focuses on human evolution and explores that adaptive genetics are passed from parents to offspring. These genetic characteristics contribute to the chances of survival in the off springs. Evolution in the human perspective entails genetic variations that occurred in ancestor populations that influenced new abilities to adapt to the environment and improve the way humans live.
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2). Define physical anthropology. Discuss some of the general ways physical anthropologists investigate evolution.
Physical anthropology, also named Biological anthropology, focuses on human evolution and the present and past diversity in human populations. This research is conducted in the context of cultural history and behavior. Physicals anthropologists utilize different ways to understand evolution. For example, they use the study of fossil remains in a field called paleoanthropology. The fossils are dated to explain information on culture, social structures, and the type of population related to the fossils. Physical anthropologists also use the study of prosimians such as monkeys and apes to understand the characteristics that differentiate and link groups together. Another way that physical anthropologist explore evolution is by analyzing the skeletal age and the chronicle age. Through this study, they explore the disease that people experience in the past compared to the present. They examine human anatomy, reproduction, physiology, and how social factors influence human beings' growth and development.
3) Using the attached file HOMO Imperii Physical Anthropology , Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution. Be sure to cite the source ( HOMO Imperii Physical Anthropology) .
The Homo Imperii is a case study by Mariner Mogilner that explores racial science and Russia's history. The article explores cultural and political debates, revolutionary trends, and the challenge caused by modern nationalism. Homo Imperii thus explores how Russian physical anthropology contributed to racial science in both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in America and Europe. Mariner believes that Physical anthropology can be utilized to study social fields and also the political language. The text also explores the basis of the problem that resulted from physical anthropology. In the text, the author states, “the problems of race in Russian imperial and early Soviet Contexts" (Mogilner, 2020, p. 6 ) . The entire book entails an explanation of how different professionals utilize physical anthropology. The article is important in understanding evolution as it explores anthropology's ties to language, history, and culture. It also helps an individual understand how racism influenced the politics and social setting in Russia.
4) Choose and define a second subfield of anthropology (cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, or archaeology).
Cultural anthropology is a major area of focus in the field of Anthropology. The field entails studying people's cultures, beliefs, and the social structure of human groups. Cultural anthropologist's primary focus is to understand how people who share the same cultures and beliefs construct their social and physical world.
5) Discuss some of the general ways an anthropologist in this second subfield investigates evolution
The various ways cultural anthropologists conduct research is through the utilization of different research methods to explore the field. Qualitative and quantitative research is used as it entails participant observation where the cultural anthropologists live in a community and get important information. These methods provide accurate firsthand information. The various ways employed in the research procedure entail the use of interviews with experts of a culture, filling questionnaires by members of a community, and conducting surveys in the targeted
Communities.
6) Using a peer-reviewed, find at least one appropriate outside source that identifies one specific research project in which anthropologists in this second subfield are studying evolution. Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution.
A study conducted by Mark Stanford explores the Cultural evolution of humans. The article explains the difference between humans and nature in the context of the presence of culture that people adapt. The text explores that cultural information is usually subjected to evolution, thus explaining why people's actions in the Stone Age period still occur to this date. These actions include joining religious cults or engaging in racial prejudice. The article explores that cultural evolution occurs faster than genetic evolution. The study also explores that cultural traits continue to exist as long as they benefit society. The study on cultural evolution helps us understand the role of history on culture (Stanford, 2019, p. 275). It explains that past events have an influence on cultural practices and traits. It also explores s the weaknesses of different cultures whereby instead of intelligently creating new cultural solutions to problems, societies prefer to imitate past built practices to maintain the culture and norms that existed in the past. It thus concluded that cultural traits are influenced by blind imitation and diffusion instead of intelligence. This article provides relevant information on how evolution affects the present cultures and how practices are passed from one society to its generation, thus upholding the same cultural practices over time.
8) Discuss how the study of evolution between physical anthropology and your chosen subfield compares and contrast.
Evolution in cultural anthropology examines the cultural evolution of different groups. Cultural anthropology explores how beliefs. Language and how economic and political systems have changed over time in different societies. Physical anthropology differs from cultural anthropology as it focuses on the biological adaptations that people possess to adapt to environmental changes. Therefore cultural anthropologies focus on every aspect concerning human society, while physical anthropology seeks answers on how people adapt to their environment. The main research procedure in cultural anthropology entails participant observation, while in physical anthropology; researchers mainly work in a laboratory setting. The two fields of anthropology are essential in understanding how culture and biology can be utilized to understand human evolution. Physical anthropologist research is essential in explaining human evolution by exploring how human knowledge has developed over time to deal with diseases and any other physical challenges ("Human evolution. An introduction to the new physical anthropology," 1972, p, 12) . Cultural anthropology also explores the change in beliefs, values, and norms in society and the creation of new cultures and beliefs. Cultural and physical anthropology contribute to understanding human beings who are the main subject in anthropology.
9) Conclude by discussing and reflecting on one new piece of information you learned about evolution .
The new unique concept is the risk of extinction due to predators and harsh climate during human evolution. Anthropological research shows that human beings' survival to undergo evolution occurred through the ability to survive the harsh climate of the environment millions of years ago. Moreover, humans were vulnerable to predators, for example, the Homo habilis skeleton found in Olorgesailie in Kenya shows bite marks that are thought to belong to a crocodile. This explains that humans lived in danger of scavengers and predators and had to invent ways and methods to survive against harsh climatic conditions that cause many health problems. The evolution of man from this concept has thus led to human beings' ability to utilize the environmental conditions to their environment. Now wild animals are controlled in parks, and in only rare cases are they a threat to humans. The climatic conditions have now been influenced by human beings as there is plenty of knowledge created by humans concerning the climate. Humans were not always on the top of the food chain, showing that humans are the most adaptable beings capable of thriving in all conditions across the globe. Therefore, anthropology is an essential discipline to the knowledge of human evolution. The studies of anthropology continue to increase in value since research on man's evolution is still essential in understanding the modern human being who is the Homo sapiens.
References
Human evolution timeline interactive . (2019, September 16). The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program. https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-evolution-timeline-interactive
Human evolution. An introduction to the new physical anthropology. (1972). Journal of Human Evolution , 1 (3), 325. https://doi.org/10.1016/0047-2484(72)90068-1
Mogilner, M. (2020). Homo Imperii: A history of physical anthropology in Russia . University of Nebraska Press.
Stanford, M. (2019). The cultural evolution of human nature. Acta Biotheoretica , 68 (2), 275-285. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10441-019-09367-7
