Week 5 Blog
1.
SOLAR RADIATION:
Some of the negative impact that
solar radiation can have on the human race is changes to the blood, vomiting,
nausea, and diarrhea. Although all are recoverable in small doses a constant
exposure could eventually kill all human life.
Astronauts are subject to cataracts, cancer, and becoming sterile from
over exposure.
2.
We have adapted in the following ways:
a.
Short-term: The pigmentation in the skin adjusts
by increasing the longer it is subjected to exposure. An example would be
getting sunburned.
b.
Facultative: Tanning can be considered a facultative
adaptation as the skin produces more melanin with long exposure to UV
rays. If a person who enjoys tanning isn’t
in the sun as often as the tanning period, their tan will slowly fade.
c.
Developmental: A developmental adaptation is the
amount of darker complexion populations in regions of the world that were exposed
to more of the sun’s harmful rays over time. The African continent is directly
affected by the solar radiation and over time human’s skin tone, or
concentration of melanin increased in these zones for protection.
d.
Cultural: Culturally the amount of skin products
such as Sunscreen, tanning lotion and SPF ratings we put on these products is a
direct product of humans trying to avoid damage to their skin.
3.
By studying the human variations in different
groups, across the world, we are able to see how humans are reacting to certain
stresses. We can see if one group is
able to ward off disease better than another, and take those positive aspects
and give them to other regions of the world so they can benefit as well.
4.
I would argue that Solar Radiation and the
climate created different races to enable humans to thrive in the geographic
location they are in. Environmental influences can help find solutions to an
issue in a region of the world quicker that a race of people. With the United
States being so racially diverse, trying to pin point an issue here in matters
of health by race would be foolish.
Now with technology advancements, most humans
can thrive in any part of the world should they choose to live there.
I really enjoyed reading your post it was very interesting and different than mine. I did my post on the environmental stress of high altitudes so it was good to learn about another stress. It was interesting to read about your point of view of how environmental stresses are preferred over race.
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI found your environmental stress post super interesting! I was shocked to see that astronauts can experiment a number of problems from overexposure to solar radiation. I wouldn't think that they could experience that all the way up in the dark space!
You are confusing "solar radiation" (which is natural) with "radiation" from radioactive substances such as uranium or plutonium. Human populations need to concern themselves with the former, which is pervasive in our environment, not really the latter, which is rare. So when you walk outside into the sun, what are some of the dangers to your homeostasis as a direct result of solar radiation?
ReplyDeleteFor your short term adaptation, remember that adaptations help the body adjust to a stress. It is a physiological response that has a positive impact. A sunburn isn't a positive response, it is an indicator that the body hasn't responded quickly enough to solar radiation. It is a symptom that damage has already occured, not a response to deal with the stress.
Good discussions on the remaining three adaptations.
Good suggestion as to an applied benefit to this type of study.
Did the environment really create 'race'?
To answer this question, you first need to explore what race actually is. 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.
I really enjoyed your environmental stress because I chose high altitude and Ive seen man with that same stress so its refreshing to see something different. I also really enjoyed your three adaption I thought they were really well written because they were so simple. I thought they were written in a way that everyone could understand which was really nice to see.
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