Glossary 323evolution Changes in allele frequencies in populations; also known as
microevolution.
evolutionary medicine An approach to human sickness and health com-
bining principles of evolutionary theory and human evolutionary history.
feature A non-portable element such as a hearth or an architectural
element such as a wall that is preserved in the archaeological record.
fieldwork The term anthropologists use for on-location research.
flotation An archaeological technique employed to recover very tiny
objects by immersion of soil samples in water to separate heavy from
light particles.
fluorine dating In archaeology or paleoanthropology, a tech nique for
relative dating based on the fact that the amount of fluorine in bones is
proportional to their age.
foramen magnum A large opening in the skull through which the spinal
cord passes and connects to the brain.
forensic anthropology Applied subfield of physical anthropology that
specializes in the identification of human skeletal remains for legal
purposes.
fossil Any mineralized trace or impression of an organism that has been
preserved in the earth’s crust from past geologic time.
founder effects A particular form of genetic drift deriving from a small
founding population not possessing all the alleles present in the original
population.
fovea centralis A shallow pit in the retina of the eye that enables an
animal to focus on an object while maintaining visual contact with its
surroundings.gender The cultural elaborations and meanings assigned to the biological
differentiation between the sexes.
gene A portion of the DNA molecule containing a sequence of base pairs
that is the fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity.
gene flow The introduction of alleles from the gene pool of one population
into that of another.
gene pool All the genetic variants possessed by members of a population.
genetic code The sequence of three bases (a codon) that specifies the
sequence of amino acids in protein synthesis.
genetic drift Chance fluctuations of allele frequencies in the gene pool of
a population.
genome The complete structure sequence of DNA for a species.
genotype The alleles possessed for a particular gene.
genus (genera, pl.) In the system of plant and animal classification, a
group of like species.
globalization Worldwide interconnectedness, evidenced in global move-
ments of natural resources, trade goods, human labor, finance capital,
information, and infectious diseases.
gracile australopithecines Members of the genus Australopithecus pos-
sessing a more lightly built chewing apparatus; likely had a diet that
included more meat than that of the robust australopithecines; best
represented by the South African species A. africanus.
grade A general level of biological organization seen among a group of
species; useful for constructing evolutionary relationships.
grave goods Items such as utensils, figurines, and personal possessions,
symbolically placed in the grave for the deceased person’s use in the
afterlife.
grid system A system for recording data in three dimensions for an
archaeological excavation.
grooming The ritual cleaning of another animal’s coat to remove parasites
and other matter.Haplorhini In the alternate primate taxonomy, the suborder that includes
tarsiers, monkeys, apes, and humans.
Hardy-Weinberg principle Demonstrates algebraically that the
percentage of individuals that are homozygous for the dominant
allele, homozygous for the recessive allele, and heterozygous should
remain constant from one generation to the next, provided that certain
specified conditions are met.
health disparity A difference in the health status between the wealthy elite
and the poor in stratified societies.
hemoglobin The protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
heterochrony Change in the timing of developmental events that is often
responsible for changes in the shape or size of a body part.
heterozygous Refers to a chromosome pair that bears different alleles for
a single gene.Cro-Magnon A European of the Upper Paleolithic after about
36,000 years ago.
cultural anthropology The study of customary patterns in human
behavior, thought, and feelings. It focuses on humans as culture-
producing and culture-reproducing creatures. Also known as social or
sociocultural anthropology.
cultural resource management A branch of archaeology tied to govern-
ment policies for the protection of cultural resources and involving
surveying and/or excavating archaeological and historical remains
threatened by construction or development.
culture A society’s shared and socially transmitted ideas, values, and
perceptions, which are used to make sense of experience and generate
behavior and are reflected in that behavior.
culture-bound Describing theories about the world and reality based on
the assumptions and values of one’s own culture.datum point The starting point, or reference, for a grid system.
demographics Population characteristics such as the number of individu-
als of each age and sex.
dendrochronology In archaeology and paleoanthropology, a technique of
chronometric dating based on the number of rings of growth found in a
tree trunk.
dental formula The number of each tooth type (incisors, canines, premo-
lars, and molars) on one half of each jaw. Unlike other mammals, pri-
mates possess equal numbers on their upper and lower jaws so the dental
formula for the species is a single series of numbers.
derived Characteristics that define a group of organisms and that did not
exist in ancestral populations.
developmental adaptation A permanent phenotypic variation derived
from interaction between genes and the environment during the period
of growth and development.
diastema A space between the canines and other teeth allowing the large
projecting canines to fit within the jaw.
discourse An extended communication on a particular subject.
disease Refers to a specific pathology; a physical or biological abnormality.
diurnal Active during the day and at rest at night.
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid. The genetic material consisting of a complex
molecule whose base structure directs the synthesis of proteins.
doctrine An assertion of opinion or belief formally handed down by an
authority as true and indisputable.
domestication An evolutionary process whereby humans modify, either
intentionally or unintentionally, the genetic makeup of a population of
plants or animals, sometimes to the extent that members of the popula-
tion are unable to survive and/or reproduce without human assistance.
dominance The ability of one allele for a trait to mask the presence of
another allele.
dominance hierarchies Observed ranking systems in primate societies
ordering individuals from high (alpha) to low standing corresponding to
predictable behavioral interactions including domination.ecofact The natural remains of plants and animals found in the archaeo-
logical record.
ecological niche A species’ way of life considered in the full context of its
environment, including factors such as diet, activity, terrain, vegetation,
predators, prey, and climate.
empirical Based on observations of the world rather than on intuition or
faith.
endemic The public health term for a disease that is widespread in a
population.
endocast A cast of the inside of a skull; used to help determine the size and
shape of the brain.
entoptic phenomena Bright pulsating forms that are generated by the
central nervous system and seen in states of trance.
enzyme Protein that initiates and directs chemical reactions.
estrus In some primate females, the time of sexual receptivity during
which ovulation is visibly displayed.
ethnocentrism The belief that the ways of one’s own culture are the only
proper ones.
ethnography A detailed description of a particular culture primarily based
on fieldwork.
ethnology The study and analysis of different cultures from a comparative
or historical point of view, utilizing ethnographic accounts and develop-
ing anthropological theories that help explain why certain important
differences or similarities occur among groups.12196_14_GLO_p322-326.indd 32312196_14_GLO_p322-326.indd 323 2/2/10 8:12:57 PM2/2/10 8:12:57 PM