2. A short term adaptation that humans have come across is being able to retain body heat in cold weather.
A facultative adaptation would include getting goosebumps or skin coming closer together in order to retain heat in cold climates.
A developmental adaptation can be the roundness and plumpness of people who have adapted to the cold environment.
A cultural adaptation would include language acquisition. Living in a certain area where there is a specific dialect would call for adapting to that culture.
3. The benefits of studying human variation are understanding the different ways that humans communicate and adapt to their environments. We also benefit by being able to utilize this information and learn about different cultures.
4. Race is a large factor in adapting to climates. Eskimos and other native cultures have adapted in history but does not necessarily mean that the race themselves has adapted. They are only human. Environmental adaptation is a better way because you would be able to better understand the affects that the environment has on humans, not just one race.
Richard,
ReplyDeleteGreat post I also wrote about cold environments. It was very informative what you wrote about race I did not think that race played a factor in adapting to climates. I agree that Environmental adaptation is a better way because it really does give you a better understanding how the environment affects us.
Hello Richard,
ReplyDeleteI would have to disagree with you that race is a large factor in adapting to climates. However, I do agree with you that environmental adaptation is a better way to study human variations because it would allow us to better understand the affects that the environment has on humans. As I wrote on my blog, race is not biological. Not one characteristic, trait, or gene distinguishes all members of another one so-called race from all members of another so-called race. Most variations are within, not between races.
I agree that we are not well adapted for cold but what specific effects does cold have on our bodies? How does it threaten homeostasis?
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the short term adaptation. The problem we have with cold is that we CAN'T retain body heat in cold weather. We lose body heat, which is why we need adaptations to prevent this. An example of a short term adaptation to cold is shivering.
Goosebumps are the remnants of an adaptation of our ancient mammalian ancestors. Muscle contractions pull the hairs upright, allowing air to be trapped more easily in the follicles which acts as insulation, trapping in heat. Problem is, we don't have enough hair left to make this affective. Additionally, this action is short term, not facultative, as it doesn't require the turning on/off of genes. What adaptation would meet that requirement?
Yes, round body shapes are an adaptation to cold climates. How does it help with homeostasis?
Language is not specifically a cultural adaptation to cold. A cultural adaptation would be clothing, fire, heat-trapping house structures, or family sleep patterns.
Okay on the benefits of the adaptive approach.
'Race is a large factor in adapting to climates.'
No, race has no impact on how we adapt. You may see similarities in the "races" you see in similar climates, but race is a cultural construct with no basis in biology. It cannot be used to explain biological traits. Skin color, or body shape, or height, or lung capacity may influence how we adapt to different stresses, but race itself, which is just a subjective category, does not affect our ability to adapt.
Make sure you review the material in Blackboard and the assignment guidelines to clear up misconceptions you have on this topic.
Richard,
ReplyDeleteI would like to add on your first paragraph that hypothermia is a good example on how it negatively impacts our homeostasis.
I'm not sure if your short term adaptation is correct or not. My example of a short term adaptation would be shivering, or eating warm foods and drinking alcohol. Which in result would raise heat levels in the body. Retaining heat sounds more of a facultative adaptation to me, but I could be wrong. But other than that, you gave pretty good examples I didn't hear before.
For the last paragraph, did you mean that race is not a factor of adaptation? You've explained nicely how race is not a factor but the environment can play a role in human variation. The environment does ''create'' different ''races'', but we are all still the same. Not sure if thats what you meant, but I agree with you anyway with the last paragraph.
I enjoyed reading about the adaptations that humans go under as a result to climate change, i am a little sad that i didnt get to read your take on the change of body shape and how this is either more associated currently by race or still more driven by environmental; and how exactly does that help them in maintaining homeostasis in body temp. overall a very interesting topic, wish i had more :)
ReplyDelete-Maria