1. What are two different types of diseases that can affect the skeleton? Provide a brief description of each. Two types of diseases that can affect the skeleton are congenital and acquired diseases. Congenital diseases are present from birth, and usually stem from genetics. Acquired skeletal diseases are ones that develop after birth typically from factors other than genetics.
2. Is a multidisciplinary approach necessary in biological anthropology when studying diseases affecting the skeletal structure from an historical standpoint? Briefly discuss why or why not. Yes, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary because a complex topic such as disease history requires research from various disciplines in order to get accurate results. Biological anthropology may cover evolutionary and physical details of disease history, but it could be strengthened through a different area of study such as paleopathology.
3. What is dental enamel hypoplasia? Please list some causes and at what ages it most occurs. Dental enamel hypoplasia is a transverse line or depression in the enamel of a tooth. They are formed as a result of a disturbance in the growth of enamel. Some causes include poor nutrition and disease. They can only form during childhood (1-7 years), which makes them a good indicator of times of malnourishment.
4. True or False: All teeth and all parts of each tooth are equally susceptible to dental enamel hypoplasia. False, different tooth types differ in their susceptibilities to hypoplasia formation.
5. It has been claimed that syphilis was only introduced to Europe after Columbus' return from the New World. Yet some paleopathologists claim to have found congenital syphilis in precolumbus Europe. How did they identify the disease in the bone and how were their findings controversial? The remains of a pregnant European woman were found that dated more than 1000 years before Columbus discovered the New World. The skeletal remains of the fetus inside the woman showed lesions and defects reminiscent of modern day congenital syphilis cases, which potentially ruled out the theory that Columbus brought back syphilis to Europe after returning from the New World.
6. What is the relationship between molecular paleoanthropology and the evolutionary study of disease? Initially, evolutionary studies of disease sought to answer broad questions such as diseases prevalent during certain timeframes, etc. However, working alongside molecular paleoanthropology allowed for broader study of the co-evolution of humans and pathogens to ancient migrations and genomics.
7. Briefly discuss a way in which further research in paleoanthropology might help us prevent future outbreaks of epidemic infectious disease. By looking into research in paleoanthropology, we would be able to look to the past and uncover trends and patterns in human disease and injury, which would broaden our knowledge of how diseases are spread. By having this knowledge readily available to us, we can thereby prevent future outbreaks of disease. Our understanding of future diseases may be limited, so looking toward the past may be the best solution.
8. Do you think that labs should spend more money on the more expensive test if another not so specific test exists that is more reliable? I believe reliability conquers
