Assignment 4 Worksheet

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National University College *

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100

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Anthropology

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Dec 6, 2023

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Assignment 4 Worksheet Instructions: This worksheet has three sections. Each section has one or more questions that need to be answered. Answer each of the questions in the space below and use as much space as you need to answer the question fully. Section 1: Physical Anthropology Explain what physical anthropology is, and how physical anthropologists study evolution. Physical Anthropology is the study of human development, attributes, and evolution. It cross-examines human and primate biology and behavior, as well as our extinct ancestors. The field focuses primarily on human evolution and variability, as well as depicting genetic data, fossil records, and skeletal remains. Physical anthropologists also study apes and use their biology to compare DNA across our species. They then apply this knowledge of human evolution to understand present human variation and how our biology intersects with today’s societal structures. Find at least one scholarly source that identifies a specific research project in which physical anthropologists study evolution (e.g. the Human Genome Project- conduct your original research, do not use this example). Provide an APA formatted reference for this source. Title: "The Human Microbiome Project" The Human Microbiome Project (HMP) is a research project in physical anthropology that explores the microbial communities found in and on the human body. Created in 2007 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the project focuses on understanding the role of these microbes in human health and disease. The HMP has made huge advances in the complex understanding of the human microbiome and its overall impact on the host. The project's results have displayed that the human microbiome plays an essential role in many of the body’s primary functions including digestion, immune system responses, and even emotional behavior. This research has opened new paths in understanding human evolution and variability, and also the potential for new treatments in multitudes of dangerous diseases. Source: Turnbaugh, P. J., Ley, R. E., Hamady, M., Fraser-Liggett, C. M., Knight, R., & Gordon, J. I. (2007). The human microbiome project. Nature, 449(7164), 804-810.

Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution. The Human Microbiome Project (HMP), which was launched by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2007, is a revolutionary new research initiative aimed at understanding the microbial communities inhabiting the human body, collectively known as the microbiome (Turnbaugh et al., 2007). The project has showcased and improved our understanding of the complex nature of the human microbiome and its influence and overall impact on the host. The HMP has provided invaluable perceptions in the evolution of humans and their microbiomes, uncovering the critical role these microbial groups play in key human functions such as digestion, immune response, and behavior (Turnbaugh et al., 2007). The study of the human microbiome allows researchers to understand how the microbes have adapted and evolved alongside their human hosts and how they will continue to evolve. Modifications in people’s diets, lifestyles, or environments can alter the very nature of the microbiome. This has been proven to impact not only the overall person’s health but also the different bodily diseases of people. (Turnbaugh et al., 2007). Furthermore, the HMP has explained variability in the human microbiome between individual people, potentially due to different blends of genetic and environmental factors (Turnbaugh et al., 2007). References: Green, R. E., Krause, J., Briggs, A. W., Maricic, T., Stenzel, U., Kircher, M., ... & Pääbo, S. (2010). A draft sequence of the Neandertal genome. Science, 328(5979), 710-722. doi:10.1126/science.1188021 Turnbaugh, P. J., Ley, R. E., Hamady, M., Fraser-Liggett, C. M., Knight, R., & Gordon, J. I. (2007). The human microbiome project. Nature, 449(7164), 804-810. doi:10.1038/nature06244 Section 2: Second subfield Choose a second subfield of anthropology (the choices are: cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, or archaeology). Linguistic anthropology is the study of languages and how they impact the societal and cultural aspects of humanity. Explain what the second subfield focuses on, and how anthropologists in this subfield study evolution.

Linguistic Anthropology probes into how language shapes our communication, forms social identities, organizes cultural beliefs, and ideals, it develops representation of how we translate social worlds. Linguistic anthropologists study evolution through historical linguistics, studying how languages change and diversify over time. This study gleans insights into human relocations, cultural exchange, and the development of civilizations. Linguistic anthropologists also investigate human evolution by studying language about other cultural and societal aspects, such as social structure, technology, and religious systems. They show how changes in these areas can display language changes, offering an understanding of how human societies have evolved and shifted over time. They focus on how these features have changed over time and what these changes reveal about human cognitive evolution. Find at least one scholarly source that identifies a specific research project in which anthropologists from this subfield study evolution. For example, an archaeologist may look at how tools have changed through time, and what has caused that change (conduct your own original research, do not use this example). Provide an APA formatted reference for this source. Project: The Evolution of Language and Thought Levinson and Holler's (2014) research on the evolution of human communication, encompasses both verbal and non-verbal signals. Their findings display the belief that language isn’t solely vocal, instead stating that gestures and speech evolved together. Their system suggests that our ancestors used both verbal and non-verbal signals, playing a significant role in the development of complex language and thought. Reference: Levinson, S. C., & Holler, J. (2014). The origin of human multi-modal communication. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369(1651), 20130302. doi:10.1098/rstb.2013.0302 Describe the research project and its significance in our understanding of evolution. The research project "The Evolution of Language and Thought" was led by Stephen C. Levinson and Judith Holler. Is being used in understanding evolution as it provides a new perspective on the development of human communication. Initially, language was interpreted as strictly a vocal concept, however, their research states that both vocal and non-vocal signals developed hand in hand. This dramatically changes the way we interpret and understand human cognitive evolution. They state that both verbal and non-verbal communication not only accelerated human evolution but enhanced the complexities that define our societies. Furthermore, this research can also focus on the evolution of other aspects of human perception that are closely associated with language, such as a person’s memories, and their ability to problem-solve. By understanding how our language and communications evolved we can

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determine how these other cognitive abilities have formed and evolved alongside them. This research project provides invaluable insight into communicative evolution and our cognitive abilities opening new roads to expand the function of the human brain and how we function as a species. Section 3: Conclusion Compare and contrast how physical anthropologists and anthropologists in the subfield you chose study evolution. . Physical and linguistic anthropologists both study human evolution albeit in different ways. Physical anthropologists focus on the biology of a person studying physical and genetic traits from both today and the past. They use methods such as excavation, lab analysis, and models. They also focus on the study of primates to learn more about the evolution of humans. Linguistic anthropologists focus more on the evolution of communication and language. They study how we use the process in social interactions and how they change over time, shaping our societies and cultural identities. They also study through non-verbal communication paths using methods such as participant observation, interviews, and other complex analyses. Despite these differences, both fields of research have to acknowledge the biological and cultural factors of human evolution. Changes in the brain have ultimately led to the development of complex language and communication patterns. At the same time, the use of language has influenced the social organization of humanity and ultimately led to more complex societal evolutionary traits.

Assignment 4 Worksheet

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