Human Variation and Race

1. Select one of the following environmental stresses:  Heat, high levels of solar radiation, cold, high altitude.  Discuss specifically how this environmental stress negatively impacts the survival of humans. 

Cold is a environmental stress that can impact the survival of humans in numerous ways, ranging from a simple annoyance all the way to fatal impact. In some cases being cold can just be uncomfortable and cause the need to bundle up, or it can go as far as to cause skin problems, for example exposure to extreme cold can lead to the outbreak of cold sores for some people. In some areas snow is a prominent condition that can even block roads and force people to be stuck where they are. In stuck in a severe cold situation people can get hypothermia, lose limbs, or even freeze to death.

2. Identify 4 ways in which humans have adapted to this stress, choosing one adaptation from each of the different types of adaptations listed above (short term, facultative, developmental and cultural).  Include images of the adaptations.

Short term: Sweating, or perspiration, is a reaction of the body to cool itself when exerting energy.

Facultative: Tanning is something the body does to protect the skin from the sun's ultra-violet rays.

Developmental: To adapt to heat stress, bodies tend to be taller, skinnier, and have longer limbs.

Cultural: People who climb mountains will use oxygen tanks in order to aid their breathing at the high altitudes.

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.  

The benefit of studying human variation across environmental clines is to study the differences and similarities amongst different cultures, environments, and situations. These studies are helpful to us because we learn our bodies and how to adapt as well as what to do to prepare ourselves for certain situations. An example of this would be knowing that if you were gonna be climbing a mountain, knowing to take an oxygen tank with you.

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. 

When studying adaptation and environmental influences race does not play as much of a role as location does. Though certain races are grouped together in locations, it is not the group that makes them how they are, it is the adaption to their location and situation.