- Select only ONE of the following environmental stresses: (a) heat, (b) high levels of solar radiation, (c) cold, or (d) high altitude. Discuss specifically how this environmental stress negatively impacts the survival of humans by disturbing homeostasis. (5 pts) High altitude negatively impacts homeostasis due to its low air pressure, and low humidity. The lower air pressure makes it harder for our boys to take in the oxygen we need. The low humidity raises the chances of dehydration.
- 2. Identify 4 ways in which humans have adapted to this stress, choosing one specific adaptation from each of the different types of adaptations listed above (short term, facultative, developmental and cultural). Include images of the adaptations. (5 pts each/ 20 pts total) Short term adaptations to high altitude would be rapid heart rate and breathing. This allows the body to receive the oxygen it needs.Facultative adaptations of humans to high altitude is our body creating more red blood cells.
Developmental adaptations would be the increase in lungs and lung expansion.
Cultural adaptations would be retaining low levels of haemoglobin.
- What are the benefits of studying human variation from this perspective across environmental clines? Can information from explorations like this be useful to help us in any way? Offer one example of how this information can be used in a productive way. (5 pts) The benefits of studying human variation based on environmental clines is that it in info based on scientific studies of genes, this ensures accuracy. Absolutely this info can useful and help us in many ways. This is useful is by examining the genes of people that live in different environments to get an accurate idea about how we actually adapt to the human stresses. For example looking at the genetics of someone that lives above so many thousands of feet above sea level and what it is that allows them to survive.
- How would you use race to understand the variation of the adaptations you listed in #2? Explain why the study of environmental influences on adaptations is a better way to understand human variation than by the use of race. (10 pts) The way I would use race to explain the adaptations would be that one particular race is can adapt better because their home region sees more of those conditions vs the home land of someone else. Environmental Influence is much better based on the accuracy of the results it provides. There is more of a scientific process to coming about the information.
- Respond to two other students’ posts with substantive comments by Wednesday of Week 7, no later than 11:59 pm. (5 pts each/ 10 pts total)
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Human Variation
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Good explanation of the stresses associated with high altitude. Who are "our boys"? Do females also feel the affects of high altitude?
ReplyDeleteYou correctly identify the first three adaptations, but I would have liked more explanation as to how these adaptations helped resolve the stresses you discuss in the first paragraph.
Cultural adaptations are either tools or cultural practices (not physiological traits) that help humans adjust to an environmental stress. An example would be the use of oxygen tanks by mountain climbers.
For section 4, yes, this increases our knowledge on human variation... but how can we use that information? One example is the improved systems of oxygen systems for mountain climbing or even more efficient systems in airplanes.
In your final section, you are just using the adaptive approach and then tying it in with racial categories. You aren't actually using race to better understand human variation. Race is a subjective social construct, with racial systems being unique to each culture. So which system do we use? Can we really use race to objectively understand biological traits?
You had a very good blog, I just wish you would have explained the benefits of having low levels of hemoglobin a little more. Hemoglobins carriers oxygen, why would having less would be more beneficial at such high altitudes?
ReplyDeleteI did not know much about this topic until I read your blog. After reading it i learned many new things from it and i believe you matched good photos with the material written. I think there could have been a bit more detail. The over all blog was good for someone like me to learn the basics of the topic
ReplyDeleteHey Justin!
ReplyDeleteGood post! I didn't know a lot of that information about high altitude until I read your blog post! It was very informative and easy to read. The pictures also accompanied the information very well! That is some very interesting stuff and I think I might actually do a bit more research on the topic myself. Great post!