1. 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.
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.
3. 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.
High levels of solar radiation can really hurt the human body. Extremely high solar levels can lead to quick acting damages such as dehydration. When the human body overheats it beings to sweat to try and cool off. This short term adaptation may help for a while but with extreme levels the sweat begins to evaporate just as quickly as it comes out of the pores, ultimately leaving the body no choice but to shut down. A long term damage that is received from high solar levels is skin cancer. The body again try to maintain homeostasis by creating melanin protect against the harmful levels, but over exposure can cause mutations in the skin cells leading to cancer and eventually ( if untreated ) death.
- Short term adaptation - extreme solar levels would cause the body to sweat to maintain homeostasis
Facultative adaptation - the skin would temporarily get darker to prevent permanent damage. i.e. sun burn
Developmental adaptation - the body would create sufficient amounts of melanin making the skin permanently dark while staying very close to or at homeostasis
Cultural adaptation - residents of these areas would wear pieces of clothing that would help keep them cool ( shorts, tank tops, hats , sandals) they would also wear sunscreen to avoid harmful damage and take trips to the beach
Having this information breaks down the reason why there are many unique people all over this planet. It gives insight that we are all human, that something as minute as skin pigmentation shouldn't make a difference in how we see or treat each other. The most influential way to use this information is to pass it on to others more so the younger generation. All the violence and crime committed over our bodies overcoming and adapting to environmental stressors isn't necessary. This shows just how strong and able our bodies can be and we should be helping each other grow stronger.
4. 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.
I believe that there is a bit of confusion/ misuse of the word race. In some instances when asking someone about their ethnicity the respond "oh you mean my race?". People come from all parts of the world looking as uniquely as the do because of these environmental adaptations. By understanding who these adaptations work you can explain that skin pigmentation happens for the protection of the body against extreme hot or cold temperatures. Simply put, adaptation will tell you the story of how they came to overcome such pressures and we can let ethnicity tell its own.
I appreciate the in depth comments you made on your environmental stress of solar radiation. I was unaware of the developmental adaptation portion of your post and how the skin permanently can remain darker by the amount of melanin created. I agree with you as to the confusion/misuse of the word "race". I think a better word would be background. There are so many people on this earth that represent so many different backgrounds and cultures and there is so much to learn if people are willing to learn.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the fact that, race is usually misunderstood when it comes to explaining these variations. I think as much that, using adaptations to explain variation is better because it tells us exaclty how well people cope with environmental stresses, and not because of their race.
ReplyDeleteMissing required images?
ReplyDeleteThe danger of solar radiation to homeostasis in humans is primarily the damage the radiation does the skin, in terms of cancer risk. There is also a conflicting factor in that we benefit from the Vitamin D absorption from the sun, so we can actually be harmed not getting sufficient sun.
"Extremely high solar levels can lead to quick acting damages such as dehydration. "
No. This is the result of heat stress, not solar radiation stress. Don't confuse the two. This goes as well to your section on a short term adaptation. There actually is no short term adaptation to solar radiation which is why it is such a dangerous stress.
Yes, tanning is a factulative response to solar radiation stress, but how does it work? Explain.
"Developmental adaptation - the body would create sufficient amounts of melanin making the skin permanently dark while staying very close to or at homeostasis"
Okay... but they why don't all humans have dark skin? Where do we tend to find populations with the darkest skin? How about the lightest? This isn't just about explaining high levels of melanin. It's about explaining the variation in skin color.
Good cultural adaptation.
I agree that knowledge is always useful (and reducing racism and bigotry would be a plus), but can you identify a way this knowledge can be useful in a concrete way? Can knowledge on adaptations to solar radiation have medical implications? Dietary implications? Could we use this information to design clothing and homes that prevent exposure to harmful radiation but allows for absorption of Vitamin D?
I don't disagree with your points in the last section, but you are running around the question in the prompt instead of addressing it. I agree that there is confusion about the concept of "race", but the confusion is understanding what "race" actually is, and we need to understand this to evaluate whether race is useful from a scientific perspective.
Race is not based in biology but is a social construct, based in beliefs and preconceptions, and used only to categorize humans into groups based upon external physical features, much like organizing a box of crayons by color. Race does not *cause* adaptations like environmental stress do, and without that causal relationship, you can't use race to explain adaptations. Race has no explanatory value over human variation.
Hello Christopher,
ReplyDeleteLike you stated in my blog, we did do the same mistake, who would of thought that there are no short term adaptations for solar radiation, makes you wonder what kind of affects this has on the human body. Or if there were short term affects what would they be and how would it affect us. Maybe as time goes on and science progresses, our body may adapt and create some sort of short term adaptations.