Anthropology 151

Final Examination – Review

Fall 2010

Dating Methods

Relative vs. Chronometric dating techniques

Law of stratigraphy, biostraigraphy, lithostratigraphy
Fluorine dating
Carbon dating
Potassium/Argon dating

Hominids

Know all the major adaptations of bipedalism

Understand the significance of the Taung child specimen
Know about the Piltdown Hoax
Know the major “hypotheses” about the origin of bipedalism and their
pros and cons.

For each of the following species know when they lived, where they
lived, and any major contributions their discovery has made to the
understanding of human evolution: Sahelanthropus tchadensis,
Orrorin tugenensis, Ardipthecus ramidus

For the following species know the above, and brain size and major
morphological features of the skull: Australopithecus garhi,
Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus afarensis,
Australopithecus sediba, Paranthropus aethiopicus, Paranthropus
robustus, Paranthropus boisei. Also know any important specimens.

Be able to distinguish between the robust and gracile

australopithecines and understand the reason behind their difference
(diet)

For the following species know all of the above AND major changes in
skull morphology, cultural behavior (stone tool cultures, other major
behavioral innovations): Homo habilis/rudolfensis, Homo
erectus/ergaster, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis,
Homo floresiensis, Homo sapiens

Know the Out of Africa and Multiregional Hypothesis of modern human

evolution and the evidence that supports the former.

Modern Humans
Know the biological basis for variation in the following genetic systems:
Lactose tolerance
G6PD deficiency
HLA complex
Blood Types (ABO and Rhesus factor)
Tay Sachs Disease
Type 2 Diabetes

Understand the biological significance of the variation in the following

morphological traits:
Skin color
Nose shape
Body shape (temperature, altitude stress)
Hair form

Understand the biological basis race and why it does not apply to our
species. Understand why biological anthropologists now study the
clinal distribution of traits.