FINGERPRINTS HOLD CLUE TO ANCESTRY Jessica Firger published an article discussing fingerprints as a key factor in identifying people since they are unique to every individual. Previously, Firger states, fingerprints were used by anthropologists as a means to simply learn about basic identity traits. Researchers believe that they can now identify ancestry based on fingerprinting. A study conducted showed a link between determining sex and ancestry through the use of fingerprinting, and is published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, she points out. The participants of the study Firger cites were of various backgrounds and genders, but all used their right index finger in the experiment. She concludes that there is not a direct link to sex, but it is possible to determine ancestry through fingerprints. Firger points out that dermatoglyphics are created early in the human gestation process. Moreover, the author states some interesting data about fingerprinting, including the fact that some diseases are related to certain patterns and that stress or physiological environments can impact the …show more content…
Moreover, the language used in the article is complex, but the author does an exemplary job at providing brief explanations behind the words she uses. This allows for anyone, anthropologist or not, to be able to grasp the concept of this scientific breakthrough. Firger offers outside research several times throughout this piece, which expresses that she is knowledgeable on the subject. As a result, she further helps the reader understand this material effectively. While there is not much room for bias, Firger still remains objective on the topic while presented information. Likewise, it is admirable how Firger presents her information while explaining what it means. She expresses and ability to connect with readers of all levels, which stands out in her writing
William Haviland, Harald Prins, Dana Walrath, Bunny McBride, Anthropology: The Human Challenge (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011), 58.
The first being that Deloria makes this writing very entertaining to read because he makes fun of the anthropologists which is not something one may see often because most people believe that anthropologists are some sort of “higher being” that seems to know no wrong. He also points out extensive flaws in the way anthropologist performed their research. One way being how anthropologist seem to treat the Indians more like test subjects rather than the actual human beings that they are. This article also appeared to open many anthropologists’ eyes because modern anthropologists seem to hold a better understanding of the responsibility they have concerning the people that they study.
The lecture provided by Professor Elias Kary on the nineteenth of November merely was a recapitulation and overview of the previous lecture, plus a summarization of the past few weeks of class lecture/material. There was an overview of Applied Anthropology and how “anthropologists have a practical place in solving problems.” (Kary 2015) There was an overview of colonialism; the Maori and Moriori of New Zealand; and the history of anthropology itself. There was a foray into the work of Charles Mann and revisionist history, particularly from the point of view of his book 1491. World systems were discussed at some length and a short overview of the film from previous class session. Then the professor went into the structure and what the class needed to provide for the final paper the next week; class then concluded early on account of the large paper due.
The goal of the anthropologist is to come to understand the beliefs and behaviours of the cultures around them, without judgement. When one scrutinizes Western rituals, we often have difficulty seeing the strangeness of our own culture. To understand those around us, we must first be able to understand ourselves. In this paper, I will attempt to critically summarize and analyze Horace Miner’s “Body Ritual among the Nacirema”.
Naomi Shihab Nye’s collection of poetry teaches the reader that the people of the Middle East are human, too. After 9/11, many people’s opinions of people from the Middle East changed significantly in a negative way. I think that a lot of people were worried about other potential attacks happening in the United States. Even now, because of recent events, many people feel threatened and they are scared of what is going to happen next. Nye’s poems remind everyone that not every person from the Middle East is threat. As she says in the introduction of her book, “A huge shadow had been cast across the lives of so many innocent people and an ancient culture’s pride” (Nye xv). Through this book, she wants to convey that they have their own lives and feel misrepresented by extremist actions.
Ember, Carol R., Melvin Ember, and Peter N. Peregrine. Anthropology. Thirteenth ed. Boston, MA: Prentice Hall, 2011. Print.
Edgar Allan Poe’s 1849 poem, “Annabel Lee”, explores the common themes of romance and death found in many of Poe’s works. The poem tells the story of a beautiful young maiden named Annabel Lee who resides by the sea. The maiden and the narrator of the poem are deeply in love, however the maiden falls ill and dies, leaving the narrator without his beloved Annabel Lee. Contrary to what many might expect from a poem by Poe and yet still depressing, the poem ends with the narrator accepting Annabel’s death and remains confident that they will forever be together despite her parting.
The reaction essay is based upon Horace Miner’s article “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema,” published in Wiley-Blackwell’s, in conjunction with the American Anthropological Association, journal American Anthropologist. The essay will consist of two sections: an article summary and a reaction discussion.
Since its inception, the academic discipline of anthropology has gone through constant paradigm shifts. In the nineteenth century, anthropology began as a nomothetic study based upon the development of cultures and societies through the process of evolution. Later on, several anthropologists, particularly Franz Boas, shifted the nomothetic approach of American anthropology into an idiographic approach, which focuses on assessing the development of cultures individually as their own separate entity. (Moore 2012:161) In the twentieth century, however, anthropology ushered in another paradigm shift.
The first recorded use of biometrics dates back to the 14th century when the Spanish explorer Joao de Barros witnessed Chinese parents pressing their children’s inked fingers and feet onto paper allowing them to differentiate one child from another. Through Barros’ travels, he noted that Chinese businessmen also closed various financial and business transactions with fingerprints. There are other pieces of historical evidence indicating the use of biometrics for various purposes prior to Barros’ records. However, none were successfully documented.
Susan Lindee and Ricardo Santos’ goal was to understand the contexts of genesis and development of biological anthropology around the world from an international standpoint, focusing on engagement with living human populations. Their contributors, scholars in history of science, science studies, and anthropology, were guided by key questions about national histories, collections, and scientific field practice.
The purpose of biometrics is to identify a person based on the measure of his anatomical and physiological characteristics. This concept is not new, its history dates back to 14th century when Chinese used footprints to identify newborns and divorce records. In the 1880s, Henry Faulds, William Herschel and Francis Galton were the first who conceived the idea of using biometric identification to guaranty the security in civil areas, like using footprints for criminal identification and fingerprinting t...
Boas, F. (1930). Anthropology. In, Seligman, E. R. A. ed., Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences. Macmillan: New York.
To begin the process of understanding why there are distinct patterns in the genetic composition of people from various regions, biological anthropologists gather data about genetically inherited traits. Tests such as blood typing and DNA sequencing have given researchers very detailed information to help understand the biological diversity of humans.
Turner, Bryan. "Does Anthropology Still Exist?" Academic Search Complete. Society, 1 May 2008. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.