Week+3

//This topic examines probable paths of human evolution. It also looks at the way our genes partly determine our behaviour and action and explores the consequences of our genetic predispositions for our ability to respond to global challenges such as climate change.// **Notes** __: (Some reflections)__ This topic rests on a number of extremely well supported scientific theories touching on general biology, genetics and evolution that form the basis of almost all scientific progress in the general field of human biology. You need at least some understanding of these areas to appreciate our probable biological heritage. Some of you will have a good biological understanding already, some may not. Some of you will accept evolutionary theory as the best explanation of our origins. Some of you will not. Please help each other to understand the basics of evolutionary biology but respect each others views on its acceptance. Here are some brief notes on biology and evolution. You should try to understand the basics for yourself. Ask your colleagues if the subject seems too complicated. In essence it is very simple. Life is self replicating; each organism has the power to gather substances or nutrients and organise these nutrients into copies of itself. This replication or reproduction has to be remarkably accurate with little variation otherwise there would be no continuity of a species. So how is this governed; it is governed by our genes. Basically we are made up of [|water], carbohydrates (eg sugars for energy), fats (eg energy storage) minerals (eg bone) and proteins and nucleic acids. The latter two are the key to understanding genetics. Proteins are responsible for our differences in features, for our structure and function. They have been likened to parts of a car, each essential to make the car go. There are a myriad of different proteins. Each is carefully replicated in a highly accurate way. This of course is determined by the nucleic acid blueprint, the DNA, genes and RNA. But if organisms were perfectly replicated, there would be no variation and no chance of evolution. However, it happens that genes DNA are not always perfectly copied and so new proteins can arise with different properties and different effects on the body (phenotype). Sometimes these modifications (mutations) can be beneficial to help the organism survive and reproduce. More often they are deleterious and the organism may go extinct. So our genes determine our proteins and our proteins determine our appearance and function. But that is not all there is to it. Our genes simply determine our possible appearance and function. Our environment also can have a great influence (eg smoking may stunt your genetic potential for growth). Thus we generally say that we are a product of our genes and our environment and the interaction of our genes and environment. **Evolution:** The theory of evolution which many now see as a given, changed the way biologists understand life and indeed changed thinking in many non-biological fields (eg evolution of ideas, economies, politics, businesses etc). It rests on the simple idea of natural selection; organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This is sometimes referred to as ‘survival of the fittest’ where fittest simply refers to the organism that produces the more viable offspring which in themselves produce more viable offspring. Now if we lived in a constant environment, there would not be much reason or pressure (selective pressure) to change. But environments continue to change, sometimes quite rapidly (relatively speaking in terms of geological time). Then organisms or species can sometimes be challenged and if some members of the species develop mutations that are better adapted to the new environment, they will end up as ‘fitter’ and thus leave more offspring into the next generation. This is the essence of evolution. **Human evolution** : So to get back to our interest; what we would like to know is what sorts of environments did our human forbears have to face and what sort of genetic changes occurred for humans to best cope with these environments. The more we know of this, the better we can understand our innate potential, our bodies, minds and psyches. It is generally argued that we modern humans have been relatively unchanged genetically for the last 200,000 years. Thus our genetic propensities fitted our hunter-gatherer life and would presumably still do so. **//The big question of our time is whether our genetic propensities fit our modern life and the world that we are now fashioning.//**
 * Week 3: Human origins: the shaping of our genetic heritage**

**Resources:** 1) For those of you who lack biological training or have forgotten the training you had, you should view the following three resources. Do not worry about the detail, just absorb the general stories. Do not spend more than say an hour on these resources, unless you want to. If you feel you are quite knowledgeable in this area skip this first resource. This site from the University of Utah provides a basic understanding of genetics, the motor of evolution: [|http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/tour/index.html] .  Evolution explained (ten minutes): [] This short video provides a simple but graphic explanation of evolution with perhaps a slight emphasis on refuting creationism. Watch the video to add to your general understanding. It touches lightly on a number of issues including human eugenics. This two minute video is quite good for getting another [|perspective] on the scientific validity of evolution. The reader speaks fast! [] 2) The major resource for this week is a chapter from the book: **New World New Mind** By Robert Ornstein and Paul Ehrlich [] This is the URL for the whole book; you might like to scan other chapters later but at this stage examine Chapter 2. The world that made us. [] Paul Erlich is a controversial figure; he is one of my scientific heroes. Together with Ornstein, he has provided some fascinating narratives of the beginnings of humanity. Read and ponder on the whole chapter.

**Activities** **(Note difference in format from last week, all activities are listed below: create your own word document for the assignment)** **Week 3 Assignment Due Sunday 26th August 5pm** **Forum posts due during week 3 and prior to 19th August**

**Activity 1** You should by now have set up your ePortfolio in Wikispaces. If you followed the [|video guide on formatting your wikispaces for IHS], you will have created a page for your a) learning journal, b) notes, c) weekly assignment and d) weekly forum post. This week, post an entry into your learning journal which will cover your reflections on weeks 1-3. The has some examples of learning journal entries, but remember, it is YOUR learning journal, so use this space so that it is useful for your own learning experience. Other activities to begin using your wiki include copying the notes for each weekly topic, your assignments and forum posts into the appropriate pages.

**Activity 2** Write about 500 words based on the Chapter of Ornstein and Ehrlich or other resources on: **Why is it difficult for humans to perceive or understand the dangers of the 21st century world that we are creating?** Save as a word document (include the question at the start of your answer) with the following filename format: neville bruce 8802 W3 and submit in the 8802 Week 3 Assignment submission area.

**Activity 3** **a)** Post a thread to the week 3 forum based on your answer to activity 2. **b)** Reply with commments to at least three other threads: choose those with least replies if possible. It is important that forum discussions are actually that, a discussion to exchange ideas and information. Try to post early enough in the week that others have time to consider your post, respond to it and engage with your perspective. Having read the prescribed chapter from Ornstein and Ehrlich, it occurs to me that this major human challenge could be simply described as an issue of spacial awareness. It is not that our brains lack the capacity to process complex information and concepts which would benefit our understanding of 21st century dangers. Nor do we lack the intelligence to develop and apply solutions. What is all seems to come down to, is our inability to view - and hold our attention on - time and space in a broad enough context that we are able to pose and resolve the longer term and more widespread challenges we face. Our brains are hardwired to deal with only that which sits directly in front of us - we cannot extend our consciousness far enough through time and space (space in this context referring to our breadth of consciousness, rather than my flippant Star Trek reference in the subject line!) to take a long view on the problems our actions are setting up in the future. One classic case in point - governments that sell off state owned assets to raise short term revenue - unable to see that in doing so, they are cutting off long-term income supply, and that their assets are finite. There are of course, countless other examples which, funnily enough, we can all rationalise as short-sighted, yet collectively we continue repeating this illogical and self-harming behaviour.

**Activity 4** Check general tutor feedback on assignments and forum posts.

**Activity 5** Start giving serious thought to your project. Your initial proposal is due for submission in the project forum at the end of week 4. Go to the Graduate Commons IHS Study Guide and Project Guide for more information on projects.