Evolution of culture, Biology

Assignment Help:

A general agreerncnt anlong nll the human evolutionists who may have a very radical philosophical hackground and convictions is that man is the result of an extraordinary evolutionary process. Whereas evidence is available from fossil remains of our ancestors and relatives for the comparative morphology and even anatomy to structure a biological classification, fossil forms do not record the behavioural aspects of man. Essentially the artifacts or the environment in which the fossils were found have to be examined judiciously to draw inferences, relating to the behaviour and cultural aspects. For instance, aggressiveness is a behaviour pattern but this behaviour pattern cannot be fossilised. On the other band, the environment in which the sharp fossile tool, and the fossils of big animals killed by game hunting speak volumes of the aggressive behaviour of the men of the times. The uniqueness of man can be attributed to the instinctive culture that he has evolved. Culture is sum total of a store of information and behaviour patterns. This is inherited by one generation from the other by instruction and learning and by examples and imitation. In other words, although the culture by itself may not be controlled by genes, the capacity tc acquire it is determined genetically. As we discussed in our earlier section, the symbol systems should have played a significant role in the transmission of cultures. Because of this difference that the culture is not transmitted by genes, it is called "superorganic". This notion is not necessarily true. After all it is only the possessors of the human genotype who can acquire, transmit, innovate or transmute culture. In other words, human genotypes are indispensible for culture although the genotypes themselves do not decide which one of the variants of the existing cultures they will acquire. It amounts to saying that there are no genes for Hindu, Islamic, Sikh, American, Chinese or European cultures. The acquiring of a particular culture depends on the environment in which a child is brought up. The same argument can be extended to the concept of the learning and using of a language. Such acts although are decided by genes, the genes do not decide which particular language will be learnt.


Related Discussions:- Evolution of culture

What is meant by substrates of enzymatic reactions, Substrates are reagent ...

Substrates are reagent molecules upon which enzymes act. The enzyme has spatial binding sites for the attachment of its substrate. These sites are known as activation centers of

Explain the nerve centres which control the body temperature, The nerve cen...

The nerve centres which control the body temperature and the urge for eating recontained in: 1.  Hypothalamus 2. Pons 3. Cerebellum 4. Thalamus Hypothalamus is the

Describe the factors that affect cardiac, Describe the factors that affect ...

Describe the factors that affect cardiac output in a female athlete who is speed skating toward the finish line in an Olympic race.

Function of adenosine in brain, Q. Function of Adenosine in brain? Aden...

Q. Function of Adenosine in brain? Adenosine has four different receptor subtypes (A1, A2A, A2B and A3). Adenosine A2A receptors are concentrated in striatum. Adenosine recepto

Physiological regeneration, Physiological Regeneration This type of r...

Physiological Regeneration This type of regeneration is a regular physiological function including the continuous replacements of cells and tissues, and thus is indispensible

Explain the disadvantages of tissue punch, Explain the Disadvantages of tis...

Explain the Disadvantages of tissue punch - There is a loss of keratini-ed tissue and this can lead to a compromised soft tissue barrier in cases where there is deficiency of a

Cell theory to be developed after microscopes, Why did it take 150 years fo...

Why did it take 150 years for the cell theory to be developed after microscopes were invented? Information about cells could not be understood and organized into a central theo

Define role of nutrients in controlling gene expression, Define Role of Nut...

Define Role of Nutrients in Controlling Gene Expression? The role of several nutrients in controlling gene expression, as mentioned earlier, is in infancy, but with advancing b

Cerebrum, what term is used to indicate its grooves?

what term is used to indicate its grooves?

Adaptation, Adaptation is the tendency of an organism to suit its environm...

Adaptation is the tendency of an organism to suit its environment; one of the main points of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by the natural selection: organisms adapt to thei

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd