Biological anthropology concepts and connections

400 Pages·2012·35.819 MB·English

by  Agustín Fuentes

Biological
Anthropology:
Concepts and
Connections

Biological
Anthropology:
Concepts and
Connections
SECOND EDITION
Agustín Fuentes
University of Notre Dame
TM
TM
Published by McGraw-Hill, an imprint of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10020. Copyright © 2012, 2007. All rights reserved. No part of this pub-
lication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database
or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.,
including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or
broadcast for distance learning.
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 QVR / QVR 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN: 978-0-07-811700-8
MHID: 0-07-811700-3

Sponsoring Editor: Gina Boedeker
Marketing Manager: Patrick Brown
Developmental Editor: Craig Leonard
Production Editor: Rachel J. Castillo
Manuscript Editor: Jan Fehler
Design Manager: Cassandra Chu
Text Designer: Jenny El-Shamy
Cover Designer: Linda Beaupré
Photo Research Manager: Brian Pecko
Buyer: Tandra Jorgensen
Composition: 9/13 ITC Bookman Light, Aptara®, Inc.
Printing: 45# New Era Matte Plus, Quad/Graphics
Vice President Editorial: Michael Ryan
Editorial Director: William R. Glass
Director of Development: Nancy Crochiere
Cover: Adult footprint from the trail of fossilized hominid footprints discovered in volcanic ash
at Laetoli, Tanzania in 1978: © John Reader/Photo Researchers, Inc.; Modern human walking
on beach: Steve Mason/Getty Images.
Credits: The credits section for this book begins on page 363 and is considered an extension of
the copyright page.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fuentes, Agustín.
Biological anthropology : concepts and connections / Agustin Fuentes.—2nd ed.
p. cm.
Rev. ed. of: / Core concepts in biological anthropology / Agustin Fuentes. c2007.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-811700-8 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-07-811700-3 (alk. paper)
1. Physical anthropology. I. Fuentes, Agustin. Core concepts in biological anthropology.
II. Title.
GN51.F83 2011
599.9—dc22 2010045902
The Internet addresses listed in the text were accurate at the time of publication. The inclusion
of a website does not indicate an endorsement by the authors or McGraw-Hill, and McGraw-Hill
does not guarantee the accuracy of the information presented at these sites.
www.mhhe.com
This book is dedicated to three amazing
teachers: my parents, Victor Fuentes and
Elizabeth Fuentes, and my graduate men-
tor, Phyllis Dolhinow. The book itself is the
result of all the students who sat through
my lectures, asked questions, and pushed
me to really, really think about what we
teach and how we teach it. Because of
them, I also dedicate this book to all who
love the quest for knowledge and ask their
teachers and themselves for more.

Brief Contents
PREFACE xvi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR xxi
Introduction 3
Chapter 1
I ntroduction to Evolutionary Fact and Theory 13
Chapter 2
B asics of Human Biology 45
Chapter 3
I ntroduction to Genetics and Genomics 69
Chapter 4
M odern Evolutionary Theory 95
Chapter 5
P rimate Behavioral Ecology 119
Chapter 6
E arly Primate Evolution 161
Chapter 7
E arly Hominin Evolution 189
Chapter 8
P lio-Pleistocene Hominins and the Genus Homo 217
Chapter 9
T he Rise of Modern Humans 257
Chapter 10
H uman Biological Diversity in Context 297
Chapter 11
T he Present and Future of Human Evolution 337
C REDITS 363
G LOSSARY 366
INDEX 370
vii

Contents
PREFACE xvi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR xx i
Introduction
FAQs For Biological Anthropology 3
How Old Is the Planet and What Organisms Have Lived on It Over That Time? 3
I f Life on Our Planet Has Changed So Much Over Time, What About the
Planet Itself? 6
H ave Humans Changed? 6
W here Did Modern Science Come From? 7
W here Is Uzbekistan? 8
Chapter 1 I ntroduction to Evolutionary Fact and Theory 13
A nthropology Is the Study of Human and Nonhuman Primates 15
A nthropology Is a Scientifi c Discipline 16
C ritical Thinking Is the Systematic Assessment of Information 16
T he Scientifi c Method Is a Way of Testing Ideas About the World Around Us 18
Connections: That’s a Fact, Jack . . . Or Is It? 19
Scientifi c Investigation Is a Collaborative Process 21
E volutionary Theory Is the Cornerstone of Anthropology 22
E volution Is Both Fact and Theory 22
Connections: Making a Monkey Out of You? 22
E arly Explanations of Life Were Both Philosophical and Religious 23
The Scientifi c Revolution Opened the Door to Systematic Study of the World 25
E volutionary Thought Emerged From Scientifi c Collaboration 26
C harles Darwin Proposed Natural Selection as the Mechanism of Evolution 31
Connections: Can You Understand Evolution and Be Religious? 39
W hat We Know/Questions That Remain 40
Summary 40
Critical Thinking 41
Resources 42
References 43
Chapter 2 B asics of Human Biology 45
T he Place of Human Beings in Nature 47
Where Do Humans Fit In? 47
ix
Connections: Why Do Monkeys Look Like Little People and
Our Dogs Understand Us? 47
H ow Are Relationships Among Organisms Determined? 48
H uman Morphology: The Body’s Form and Structure 49
T issues Cover Us and Bind Us Together 49
The Skeleton: Our Basic Form 50
T he Musculature Interacts With the Skeleton 55
Connections: My Bones Ache… 55
All Mammals Share Common Skeletal Structures 55
H uman Physiology: The Systems of the Body 57
T he Circulatory and Respiratory Systems Transport Nutrients and More 57
T he Nervous System and Brain Control the Actions of the Body and Assess the
Organism’s Surroundings 58
T he Endocrine System Regulates and Communicates Hormonal Information
Throughout the Body 60
The Digestive System Processes Nutrients 61
T he Reproductive System Enables Us to Produce Off spring 62
Connections: Whoa, Where Did That Come From? The Fascinating
Development of Human Genitals 64
A ll of These Systems (and More) Are Interconnected 64
W hat We Know/Questions That Remain 65
Summary 66
Critical Thinking 66
Resources 67
Chapter 3 I ntroduction to Genetics and Genomics 69
H eredity Is the Passing of Genetic Information From Generation to Generation 70
Connections: “Gene”—What Is in a Word? 71
DNA Is the Molecule of Heredity 72
D NA Is Found in Cells 72
DNA Has a Specifi c Structure 73
DNA Has Three Main Functions 74
Connections: Why It Is Important to Understand What DNA Does 82
M endel’s Basic Model of Inheritance 82
T raits Are Passed From Generation to Generation 82
Mendel’s Work Continues to Inform Current Knowledge 84
T he Relationship Between Genes and Traits Is Complex 85
Four Ways Genes Produce Traits 86
A re There Specifi c Genes for Certain Diseases? 87
M ost DNA Doesn’t Appear to Do Anything! 87
D oes DNA Cause Certain Behaviors? 88
Connections: My Genes Made Me Do It! 88
P opulation Genetics Helps Us Understand Evolution 89
W hat We Know/Questions That Remain 90
Summary 91
Critical Thinking 91
R esources 92
References 93
x Contents