Evolution encompasses the change that occurs in inheritable traits among natural populations among successive generations which are the expression of genes and are passed on from the parents to the offsprings through the process of reproduction. Essentially, every community bears certain unique traits such as genetic recombination, mutations as well as other sources of genetic variation. Evolution is said to have taken place once the evolutionary processes like genetic drift and natural selection act on the variations causing unique characteristics to be more rare or prevalent in a particular population (Jurmain et al., 2017). The process of evolution has led to biodiversity in every level of the biological organization including species levels, molecules, and individual organisms.
Physical anthropology
Physical anthropology is a branch of anthropology that seeks to determine the source of evolution and study the diversity of various populations (Vargo & Lusch, 2008). Physical anthologists have three major problems that they deal with, one of them being the human and non-human primate evolution, human variation as well as its significance and the biological aspects of the behavior of human beings.
Ways of investigating Evolution used by physical anthropologists
Physical anthropologists explore the concept of development in numerous ways aiming to gain a detailed understanding of the human evolution. Some of the methods used include relative dating research, fossil research, theoretical research as well as environmental research. In relative dating, the age of artifacts, the earth, and fossils is determined through the use of the earth's strata of the crust to indicate the time intervals between the layers of rocks and the application of the layering principle to find out the series of cultures (Jurmain et al., 2017). One of the conventional methods in the layering principle is fluorine dating which involves the absorption of fluorine element from the soil by the fossil bones. Majorly, the element is buried in the ground at deeper length to enhance more uptake by the fossil bones. Nevertheless, the method needs samples to be obtained from an immediate location.
In the theoretical research, theories concerning evolution are applied to enable the researchers in anthropology to have enough knowledge on how human beings evolved and how they continue to develop. In this case, research is done on the mortal remains of early ancestors to find out the relationship between various specimens and thus giving time for a human evolution development (Fabian, 2014). The other way is through fossil research which entails focusing on human beings and the remains of recent human instead of making conclusions from the observations, artifacts, written records and study done on historical sites to gain sufficient knowledge concerning human evolution, differences in genetics as well as future signs of progress. The last way is through environmental research whereby physical anthropologists give understanding on how some cultures have adapted to the environmental factors such as infectious organisms and extreme weather conditions (Gifford, 2008). Experts in this evaluate the health, adaptations, and inheritances of the existing living cultures to the environment and nutrition.
A Project being studied by physical anthropologists in relation to evolution and explain its significance to evolution.
Among the vital methods applied by anthropologists is the study of human growth and development whereby specialists focused on exploring the rate of growth of the current humans, various primates as well as the remains of early hominids in all phases of life (Fabian, 2014). Research has been done on the biological growth mechanisms and the environmental effects of the growth process. For a full understanding of the various life stages, it is vital to compare the different steps to identify the differences and similarities. From these studies, it is evident that the modern growth and development sequence originated from and then spread out into a wide range of models over a long period and eventually developed into a different version from the non-human ancestors. Researchers have also proved that australopithecines had a different pattern from current humans and apes. Moreover, the positions of trends in growth and development patterns among neatherndals are questionable.
Today, physical anthropologists are researching the impacts of pollution, diseases, and poverty on the growth of humans. The essentiality of researching the growth and development of human beings is to give evidence to the history of evolution among humans as compared to the patterns of growth between non-human and human primate (Gifford, 2008). Moreover, research was done by anthropologists on the elements of healthy growth among current children. Notably, studies done on the adaptations of human proved that humans are capable of adjusting and adapting to the physical as well as the biological environment changes. Most of these biological adjustment elements contain genetic content of the population (Jurmain et al., 2017). The time of human growth and development provides sufficient environmental chances to make up the human body which contains genetic variations such as height, skin color, and body form as well as the biological factors which include susceptibility to diseases and the type of blood.
A project with being studied by anthropologists in the second subfield. Explain its essence in connection to the aspect of evolution.
Anthropologists are also exploring the human evolution through studying the behavioral evidence of human beings. Human beings are Homo sapiens, and their intellectual abilities make them easy to distinguish from animals whereby humans can reason and relate well with others. Human beings are unique for instance through music, art, language, ornament making, and performance of religious rituals. Nevertheless, although man is exceptional, humans exhibit more than 90% no corresponding sequence of DNA with similarity to chimpanzees. Additionally, the modern human has various traits in them obtained through common ancestry (Vargo & Lusch, 2008). Essentially, the particular characteristics are evident in the contemporary human because of the specific change in the brain organization.
There is a robust evident connection between the thinking process in human and the size of the brain. Most of the human characteristics are common between human and apes despite the development of unique neural and cognitive attributes during the process of evolution. Primarily, the importance of studying the behavioral evidence is to find out how the various species respond to the human changes and the reduction of a human threat to other species (Fabian, 2014). The primary objective of studying the evidence of behavior among humans is to understand the way in which species respond to human changes and minimize the threats to other species.
Comparison between the study of evolution in physical anthropology and the selected subfield.
Physical anthropology and the study of behavior among humans show a morphological connection. The primates, as well as humans, have a different understanding of the social aspects. Moreover, humans and non-humans are different in their reasoning capabilities concerning both the physical and social world. Humans possess an advanced psychological belief-desire that they utilize in their reasoning about thoughts, intentions as well as beliefs of other people (Gifford, 2008). On the other hand, some species possess similar abilities such as reasoning about other people’s perception. According to studies conducted on physical anthropology and behavioral evidence, we can get a comprehensive understanding of the mind of a human being.
Conclude by discussing and reflecting on what you have learned concerning evolution.
Through understanding the concepts of evolution, I have acquired knowledge concerning the past, current and the future developments in the world. Cultures, species, and environment are becoming extinct in various places which calls for quick solutions to minimize the extinction. The study of evolution, therefore, is a challenge to humans to utilize their knowledge in generating new methods of research such as acquiring knowledge to experience instant functioning through us (Vargo & Lusch, 2008). Moreover, the study of evolution has helped me realize that humans have made a significant contribution to the current changes in evolution as well as the challenges such as the increasing emergence of new diseases, harsh climatic conditions due to changes in personal and industrial activities as well as depletion of resources. In conclusion, the aspect of evolution can have a significant influence on the mode of thinking in humans, as well as their actions which determine the future generations of the entire world species.
References
Fabian, J. (2014). Time and the other: How anthropology makes its object. Columbia University Press.
Gifford, A. (2008). Peter J. Richerson and Robert Boyd, Not by Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution.
Jurmain, R., Kilgore, L., Trevathan, W., Bartelink, E., & Ciochon, R.L. (2017). Introduction to physical anthropology. Nelson Education.
Vargo, S.L., & Lusch, R.F. (2008). Service-dominant logic: continuing the evolution. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 36(1), 1-10.
