Homework Help is Here – Start Your Trial Now!
Science
Biology
This question will assess your understanding of popular thinking about Evolution by Natural Selection. The following interview appeared in the NY Times about the evolution of human skin. Your task is to read the interview an answer the question below: Claudia Dreifus. 2007. A Conversation with Dr NG Jablonski: Always Revealing, Human Skin Is an Anthropologist's Map. NYT 9 Jan 07. Interviewer: And what have you found? Scientist: .There was a tremendous takeoff in human evolution about two million years ago when primates who could no longer be called apes appeared in the savannahs of East Africa. These early humans ran long distances in open areas. In order to survive in the equatorial sun, they needed to cool their brains. Early humans evolved an increased number of sweat glands for that purpose, which in turn permitted their brain size to expand. As soon as we developed larger brains, our planning capacity increased, and this allowed people to disperse out of Africa. There's fossil evidence of humans appearing in Central Asia around this time. Interviewer: In a nutshell, what has your research shown about why humans have varying skin colors? Scientist: That it's not about race - it's about sun and about how close our ancestors lived to the Equator. Skin color is what regulates our body's reaction to the sun and its rays. Dark skin evolved to protect the body from excessive sun rays. Light skin evolved when people migrated away from the Equator and needed to make vitamin D in their skin. To do that, they had to lose pigment. Repeatedly over history, many people moved dark to light and light to dark showing that color is not a permanent trait.

This question will assess your understanding of popular thinking about Evolution by Natural Selection. The following interview appeared in the NY Times about the evolution of human skin. Your task is to read the interview an answer the question below: Claudia Dreifus. 2007. A Conversation with Dr NG Jablonski: Always Revealing, Human Skin Is an Anthropologist's Map. NYT 9 Jan 07. Interviewer: And what have you found? Scientist: .There was a tremendous takeoff in human evolution about two million years ago when primates who could no longer be called apes appeared in the savannahs of East Africa. These early humans ran long distances in open areas. In order to survive in the equatorial sun, they needed to cool their brains. Early humans evolved an increased number of sweat glands for that purpose, which in turn permitted their brain size to expand. As soon as we developed larger brains, our planning capacity increased, and this allowed people to disperse out of Africa. There's fossil evidence of humans appearing in Central Asia around this time. Interviewer: In a nutshell, what has your research shown about why humans have varying skin colors? Scientist: That it's not about race - it's about sun and about how close our ancestors lived to the Equator. Skin color is what regulates our body's reaction to the sun and its rays. Dark skin evolved to protect the body from excessive sun rays. Light skin evolved when people migrated away from the Equator and needed to make vitamin D in their skin. To do that, they had to lose pigment. Repeatedly over history, many people moved dark to light and light to dark showing that color is not a permanent trait.

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...
See similar textbooks
icon
Related questions
icon
Concept explainers
Question
This question will assess your understanding of popular thinking about Evolution by Natural Selection. The following interview appeared in the NY Times about the evolution of human skin. Your task is to read the interview and answer the question below: Claudia Dreifus. 2007. A Conversation with Dr NG Jablonski: Always Revealing, Human Skin Is an Anthropologist's Map. NYT 9 Jan 07. Interviewer: And what have you found? Scientist: .There was a tremendous takeoff in human evolution about two million years ago when primates who could no longer be called apes appeared in the savannahs of East Africa. These early humans ran long distances in open areas. In order to survive in the equatorial sun, they needed to cool their brains. Early humans evolved an increased number of sweat glands for that purpose, which in turn permitted their brain size to expand. As soon as we developed larger brains, our planning capacity increased, and this allowed people to disperse out of Africa. There's fossil evidence of humans appearing in Central Asia around this time. Interviewer: In a nutshell, what has your research shown about why humans have varying skin colors? Scientist: That it's not about race – it's about sun and about how close our ancestors lived to the Equator. Skin color is what regulates our body's reaction to the sun and its rays. Dark skin evolved to protect the body from excessive sun rays. Light skin evolved when people migrated away from the Equator and needed to make vitamin D in their skin. To do that, they had to lose pigment. Repeatedly over history, many people moved dark to light and light to dark showing that color is not a permanent trait. Q6. Critique the Scientist's understanding of Evolution by Natural Selection expressed in this interview. Cite specific evidence from the interview to warrant any conclusions you make.
Transcribed Image Text:This question will assess your understanding of popular thinking about Evolution by Natural Selection. The following interview appeared in the NY Times about the evolution of human skin. Your task is to read the interview and answer the question below: Claudia Dreifus. 2007. A Conversation with Dr NG Jablonski: Always Revealing, Human Skin Is an Anthropologist's Map. NYT 9 Jan 07. Interviewer: And what have you found? Scientist: .There was a tremendous takeoff in human evolution about two million years ago when primates who could no longer be called apes appeared in the savannahs of East Africa. These early humans ran long distances in open areas. In order to survive in the equatorial sun, they needed to cool their brains. Early humans evolved an increased number of sweat glands for that purpose, which in turn permitted their brain size to expand. As soon as we developed larger brains, our planning capacity increased, and this allowed people to disperse out of Africa. There's fossil evidence of humans appearing in Central Asia around this time. Interviewer: In a nutshell, what has your research shown about why humans have varying skin colors? Scientist: That it's not about race – it's about sun and about how close our ancestors lived to the Equator. Skin color is what regulates our body's reaction to the sun and its rays. Dark skin evolved to protect the body from excessive sun rays. Light skin evolved when people migrated away from the Equator and needed to make vitamin D in their skin. To do that, they had to lose pigment. Repeatedly over history, many people moved dark to light and light to dark showing that color is not a permanent trait. Q6. Critique the Scientist's understanding of Evolution by Natural Selection expressed in this interview. Cite specific evidence from the interview to warrant any conclusions you make.
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

SEE SOLUTIONCheck out a sample Q&A here
Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Pre-Darwinian concepts
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9780134580999
Author:
Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:
PEARSON
Biology 2e
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:
9781947172517
Author:
Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:
OpenStax
Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781259398629
Author:
McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa Stouter
Publisher:
Mcgraw Hill Education,
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9780815344322
Author:
Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter
Publisher:
W. W. Norton & Company
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781260159363
Author:
Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, Cynthia
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9781260231700
Author:
Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht
Publisher:
McGraw Hill Education
SEE MORE TEXTBOOKS