Homework #1
Anth1
Due Monday 4/22 in Class or email prior to class

-These homework questions should be answered in one short paragraph --
-No more than 1/3 page for each answer.
-Keep it SHORT!!! The ability to be concise is an incredibly important
thing to learn while in college.
-You can either email the professor these answers or hand them in class.
-Be prepared to discuss answers in class.


1) Find an example of natural selection taking place here in Silicon
Valley. Describe the adaptation and why you think it is being
selected for.
2) Viral diseases like Ebola and AIDS are both capable of wiping out
large populations of people, but in terms of the evolutionary
processes that we are studying, Ebola will not likely succeed in doing
long term major damage, but AIDS can. Why do you think these two
diseases are different evolutionarily? [Chapter2 of the Smith reader
is helpful].
3) What do Thomas Malthus and GM crops have in common? Comment on the
relationship between these two. (compare Chapter 3 of the Smith Reader
and the ideas of Malthus - as discussed in class).