Glossary of Key Terms

Chapter 13: Modern Human Diversity

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

E

Epicanthic eye fold
A fold of skin at the inner corner of the eye that covers the true corner of the eye; common in Asiatic populations.

F

Faunal region
A geographic region with its own distinctive assemblage of animal life, not precisely like that of other regions.

L

Lactase
An enzyme in the small intestine that enables humans to assimilate lactose.

Lactose
The primary constituent of fresh milk.

M

Melanin
The chemical responsible for dark skin pigmentation, which helps protect against damage from ultraviolet radiation.

P

Polymorphic
A species with alternative forms (alleles) of particular genes.

Polytypic
The expression of genetic variants in different frequencies in different populations of a species.

R

Race
In biology, a population of a species that differs in the frequency of the variants of some gene or genes from other populations of the same species.

Racism
A doctrine of racial superiority by which one group asserts its superiority over another.

T

Thrifty genotype
Human genotype that permits efficient storage of fat to draw on in times of food shortage and conservation of glucose and nitrogen.