Legacies of Human Evolutionary History

1
Chapter 17

• Legacies of Human Evolutionary History

2
Chapter Outline

• Evolution of Human Behavior and the Life Course
• Biocultural Evolution and the Life Cycle
• Human Impact on the Planet and Other Life-Forms
• Is There Any Good News?
• Are We Still Evolving?

3
Behavioral Ecology

• When these G/wi hunters plan their hunting
  strategy, they consider many factors in addition
  to calories expended and acquired.

4
Behavior Patterns

• A mother with her twins. The one on the left is a
  boy and is breast-fed. The girl, on the right, is
  bottle-fed. This illustrates differential
  treatment of boys and girls and the potential
  negative effects of bottle-feeding.

5
Question

• Behavioral ecologists would say that our
  behaviors reflect our evolutionary history. Which
  of the following is NOT one of the variables that
  contribute to human behaviors?
• Gene combinations.
• All of these contribute to human behaviors.
• Individual experiences.
• Environment.

6
Answer b

• Behavioral ecologists would say that our
  behaviors reflect our evolutionary history. All
  of the following contribute to human behaviors
• Gene combinations.
• Individual experiences.
• Environment.

7
Life Cycle Stages for Various Animal Species
8
The Human Life Cycle

1. Prenatal begins with conception and ends with
   birth.
2. Infancy is when the baby nurses.
3. Childhood is from weaning to puberty.
4. Adolescence is from puberty to the end of growth.
5. Adulthood is the completion of growth.

9
Diameter of Birth Canal and Head Length and
Breadth of Newborns
10
Question

• Humans have a life cycle phase that other
  primates don't have. It is
• infancy.
• adolescence.
• childhood.
• menopause.

11
Answer d

• Humans have a life cycle phase that other
  primates don't have. It is menopause.

12
Growth and Development

• Growth refers to an increase in mass or number of
  cells.
• Development refers to differentiation of cells
  into different types of tissues.

13
Nutritional Requirements for Growth

• Nutrients needed for growth, development, and
  body maintenance include proteins,
  carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.
• The amount we need of these nutrients coevolved
  with foods available to humans throughout
  evolutionary history.
• The specific pattern of amino acids required in
  human nutrition reflects an ancestral diet high
  in animal protein.

14
Preagricultural, Contemporary, and Recently
Recommended Diet
Preagricultural Diet Preagricultural Diet Preagricultural Diet Contemporary Diet Contemporary Diet Recently Recommended
Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy ()
Protein Protein 33 12 12 12 12
Carbohydrate Carbohydrate 46 46 46 58 58
Fat Fat 21 42 42 30 30
Alcohol Alcohol 0 (710) (710)
Cholesterol (mg) Cholesterol (mg) 520 300500 300500 300 300
15
Preagricultural, Contemporary, and Recently
Recommended Diet
Preagricultural Diet Contemporary Diet Recently Recommended
Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy () Total dietary energy ()
Fiber (g) 100150 19.7 3060
Sodium (mg) 690 2,3006,900 1,0003,300
Calcium (mg) 1,5002,000 740 8001,500
Ascorbic acid (mg) 440 90 60
16
Food

• Some people suffer from an overabundance of food
  (left), while others suffer from tragically
  insufficient amounts of food.

17
The Secular Trend in Age at Menarche in Europe
18
Maximal Life Spans for Selected Species
Organism Lifespan
Bristlecone pine 5,000
Tortoise 170
Rockfish 140
Human 120
Blue whale 80
19
Maximal Life Spans for Selected Species
Organism Lifespan
Indian elephant 70
Gorilla 39
Domestic dog 34
Rabbit 13
Rat 5
20
Telomeres

• Telomeres are repeated sequences of DNA at the
  ends of chromosomes, and the sequences appear to
  be the same in all animals.
• They stabilize and protect the ends of
  chromosomes, as they shorten with each cell
  division, chromosomes eventually become unstable.

21
Changes in Life Expectancy Due to AIDS in Seven
African Nations
22
Millennium Development Goals

• In 2000, heads of state from almost 150 countries
  agreed to support goals that help reduce human
  misery throughout the world.
• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
• Achieve universal primary education.
• Promote gender equity and empower women.
• Reduce child mortality.

23
Millennium Development Goals

1. Improve maternal health.
2. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
3. Ensure environmental sustainability.
4. Build a global partnership for development.

24
Growth in Protected Areas