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The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution Larry L Cambridge University Press 0521662508 - The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution Larry L. Mai, Marcus Young Owl and M. Patricia Kersting Excerpt More information Abdur Reef A. n dates: see Oakley’s dating series in box below. A antigen: epitope that specifies the A in the ABO AAA: abbreviation for several societies of interest to blood group. It consists of four precursor sugars human evolutionary biologists, including the attached to glycoproteins of the cell membrane, American Anthropological Association and the aka H substance, plus a specific fifth terminal sugar, American Anatomical Association. N-acetylgalactosamine, that is attached by an enzyme. A Oakley’s absolute dating series A.1 date: highest of Oakley’s hierarchical levels of absolute dating, the direct dating of a specimen, e.g. by measuring the radiocarbon activity of a bone itself. A.2 date: one of Oakley’s hierarchical levels of absolute dating, dating derived from direct determination by physical measurement of the age of the sediments containing the fossil specimen. A.3 date: one of Oakley’s hierarchical levels of absolute dating, the correlation of a fossil-bearing horizon with another deposit whose age has been determined directly by A.1 or A.2 methods. See biostratigraphy. A.4 date: lowest of Oakley’s hierarchical levels of absolute dating, estimating an absolute age on the basis of some theoretical consideration, such as matching climatic fluctuations observed in strata with astro- nomically derived curves of effective solar radiation, or matching terrestrial glacial and interglacial episodes with the known marine paleotemperature or oxygen isotope stage. (Cf. R.n dates) This enzyme differs from its homologue that attaches abdominal circumference: anthropometric meas- the B-specific sugar by one amino acid substitution. urement; distance around the torso measured with See B antigen and O null allele. a tape measure placed at the level of the greatest AAFS: see American Academy of Forensic anterior extension of the abdomen in the horizon- Scientists. tal plane, normally the umbilicus, passed horizon- AAPA: see American Association of Physical tally around the body. The measurement is taken Anthropologists. after a normal expiration. Used for various body abaxial: on the opposite side of, or facing away from, indices pertaining to adipose distribution. Cf. waist the axis of a structure or an organism. circumference. Abbeville: archaeological site found in 1830 in the abdominal skinfold: anthropometric measurement; French Valley of the Somme, possibly dated to the skinfold measured about 3 cm lateral to the umbil- first interglacial (ϭ Pleistocene deposits) described icus. Used in combination with other skinfold by Boucher de Perthes in 1847; one of the first his- measurements to estimate body composition. See torical cases of artifacts of arguable antiquity; used skinfold thickness. as proof of the existence of early humans contrary to abductor: muscle or muscle group that moves a body the story contained in Genesis. Through the early part away from the mid-line; aka levator. Cf. adductor. twentieth century the term Abbevillian was applied abductor pollicis brevis: intrinsic muscle of the globally to the most ancient tool deposits; Oakley hand; it originates from the scaphoid and trapezium lumped both Oldowan choppers and Acheulean and inserts into the lateral surface of metacarpal I. Its choppers under this term. Aka Port du Bois, action is to abduct the thumb; one of the thenar Menchecourt-les-Abbeville. group of muscles. Cf. adductor pollicis. Abbevillian tool tradition: term that refers to pre- abductor pollicis longus: muscle that acts on the Acheulean stone-tool assemblages found in Europe; hand; it originates from the posterior surface of the among the artifacts are crude bifacial tools con- radius and ulna and inserts into the base of structed with a hammerstone rather than a softer metacarpal I. Its action is to abduct and extend the striking instrument (as in Acheulean).Aka Chellean. thumb. See Oldowan. Abdur Reef: archaeological site near Abdur along the abdomen: portion of the body between the thorax and Bari Coast in Eritrea on the coast of the Red Sea, the pelvis. dating to 125kya (U/Th). The elevated reef contains abdominal cavity: space within the body between the artifacts including bifacial hand-axes, blade tools respiratory diaphragm and the pelvic inlet in which and sharpened obsidian flakes found among the abdominal viscera are contained; abdomen. shellfish remains and animals bones deposited on an Cf. coelom. uplifted reef system. Aka Abdur Limestone Site. 1 © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521662508 - The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution Larry L. Mai, Marcus Young Owl and M. Patricia Kersting Excerpt More information abris aberrant: 1. a departure from the norm; an anomaly or antecedent to later colonizers. In reference to humans, aberration. 2. in genetics, an individual phenotype this term has been applied most often to the original that exhibits atypical characteristics due to the inhabitants of Australia; aborigine. Cf. indigenous, influence of the environment rather than from autochthonous. genetic factors. abortion: 1. arrest of a process or disease before com- ABH blood group (ABH): a polymorphism found in pletion. 2. interruption of pregnancy before the fetus many organisms and determined by the presence or has attained a stage of viability, usually before the absence of A, B, and/or H antigens found on cell 24th gestational week. There are two classes: an membranes such as erythrocytes. In humans, this induced abortion is the termination of a pregnancy, system has been modified and is named the ABO often for medical reasons, by means other than those blood group. causing spontaneous abortion (aka clinical abortion, abiotrophy: 1. general term denoting degenerative therapeutic abortion, feticide). A spontaneous abortion changes of tissue due to genetic causes. 2. deterior- is the natural termination of a pregnancy before the ation of the body. fetus can survive outside the uterus (between 0 and abnormal: 1. not normal. 2. departing from the usual 20 weeks); occurs in about 30% of first pregnancies, structure, position, or condition. Abnormality. frequently so early that a woman is not aware that abnormal hemoglobins: any of the hemoglobin she was pregnant, and is most often due to chromo- alleles other than hemoglobin A; most are causes of somal errors (50–60%); sometimes applied to a hemoglobinopathies, such as sickle cell anemia specific period of gestation, such as during the first and thalassemia. 20 weeks of pregnancy (aka early fetal death). See ‡ ABO blood group: polymorphism based on the miscarriage and stillbirth. presence or absence of two antigens (IA and IB) found Abri Pataud: archaeological site found in 1949 near on the cell membrane of erythrocytes (red blood Les Eyzies in the Vézère River Valley, Dordogne, cells); the antigens are also found on other cells. The France, dating from 34kya and persisting for over ‘O’ factor is an absent or ‘null’ allele, not an antigen. 14 ky; excavated by H. Movius; contains over 25000 See H substance. Aurignacian II artifacts including burins, an engrav- ABO disease association: any abnormal condition ing tool for working antlers, a venus figurine in relief correlated with an allele or genotype of the ABO on stone, and hominid remains from at least two blood group. A number of diseases are associated individuals, including a young female attributed to with the presence of each of the A, B and O alleles in Homo sapiens. Of 30 crates of animal bones excav- the ABO blood group; among the more prominent ated, about 30% of all prey appear to have been rein- are salivary gland tumors (type A), ulcers (type O), deer. Aka Pataud. and certain infant diarrheas (types A and B). Abri Suard: archaeological site found in 1870 in the La ABO hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN): Chaise cave area, western France, dated to 200–100 destruction of the erythrocytes of a fetus; a mal- kya; contains hominid remains from several indi- adaptive condition roughly twice as common as the viduals including an incomplete 1050cm3 calotte Rhesus incompatibility form of HDN, but almost assigned to the archaic Neanderthal group. Aka always clinically milder in its manifestation. Caused Suard. by some of the smaller anti-A or anti-B antibodies in Abrigo do Lagar Velho rockshelter: archaeological a mother’s immune system penetrating the placen- site found in 1998 in the Lapedo Valley, north of tal membranes. Lisbon, Portugal, dated to 24.5kya (radiocarbon), ABO incompatibility: lowered probability of concep- that contains Gravettian artifacts. The fossil tion owing to the genotypes in the ABO blood group hominid remains include a nearly complete skeleton possessed by potential parents. In populations that of a child (Lagar Velho 1) attributed to either Homo maintain all three alleles, it has been suggested sapiens or H. neanderthalensis. Among the arti- that type O mothers produce fewer offspring than facts collected were charcoal, stone tools, pierced deer expected when the fathers are either type A or type B; canines and fossilized red deer bones and horse this may be due to the presence of either antibodies teeth. Aka Lagar Velho. This find has been inter- in the mother’s vaginal secretions (that could agglu- preted by some as indicative of gene flow between tinate sperm), or certain smaller classes of maternal Neandertals and AMHs, and in support of the anti-A and anti-B antibodies that could pass through multiregional continuity model. See pierced the placenta and affect the development of the fetus. mammal teeth and last of the Neandertals.Cf. aboriginal: indigenous; native to; original biological Mezmaiskaya Cave. species or populations inhabiting a particular geo- abris: French for shelter; rockshelter is ‘abris sous graphical region, particularly referring to groups roche’. 2 © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521662508 - The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution Larry L.
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