Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease (MMS3101)

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Take Home Test: Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease (MMS3101)
Semester 1, 2020
Due Date: BEFORE 17:00 ON MONDAY THE 4TH OF MAY IN ASSIGNMENT DROP
BOX NUMBER 2 (LEVEL 2, BUILDING 17)
First Name: ________________
Surname: __________________
Student Number: ____________
1. What is the coefficient of relationship between you and your relatives? That is – what
proportion of your genes do you share in common with each of your relatives? Please
tick 1 box for each of these 4 questions.
a. What is the coefficient of relationship between you and your Mother (please tick
1 box)

   

100% 50% 25% 12.5%

(marks 1)
b. What is the coefficient of relationship between you and your Grandfather
(please tick 1 box)

   

100% 50% 25% 12.5%

(marks 1)
c. What is the coefficient of relationship between you and your identical twin
sister (please tick 1 box)

   

100% 50% 25% 12.5%

(marks 1)
d. What is the coefficient of relationship between you and your Son (please tick 1
box)

   

100% 50% 25% 12.5%

(marks 1)
Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease (MMS3101)
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2. As discussed in the Week 1 Lecture, tutorial and the reading, Barrett et al. (2002) state
that natural selection is “based on just three premises and their logical consequences”.
Please describe in your own words each of these 3 principles of natural selection
(marks 6).
Principle of Variation:
Principle of Inheritance:
Principle of Adaptation:
Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease (MMS3101)
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3. Describe a specific example where natural selection is likely to have produced a specific
trait, feature or behaviour. In your example make sure you use the 3 principles of natural
selection described in Question 2 (marks 6).
Reference:
Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease (MMS3101)
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4. Evolutionary medicine is a new discipline, however, it has deep roots in the history of
evolutionary thought. Detail below the history of evolutionary medicine (marks 6).
Reference:
Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease (MMS3101)
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5. Evolutionary theory proposes that we are more likely to cooperate with our kin and it is
more likely to be beneficial. However, in modern societies less and less of our lives are
spent in contact with relatives, so is this evolutionary prediction still supported? From
your readings provide research evidence for or against the proposition that kin are
more likely to help each other and any benefits or disadvantages (e.g., survival and
reproduction) associated with this (10 marks).
Reference:
Evolutionary Perspectives on Health and Disease (MMS3101)
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6. We identified two fields of study we are bringing together in this evolutionary medicine
unit: they were human behavioural ecology and evolutionary psychology. Below are 4
questions about these disciplines. Please tick 1 box for each of these 4 questions.
a. Which of these disciplines focuses on the differences in reproductive success
between individuals? (please tick 1 box)

	Human behavioural ecology
	Evolutionary psychology

(marks 1)
b. What is the parent discipline of evolutionary psychology? (please tick 1 box)

   

Social Psychology Developmental psychology Cognitive psychology Clinical psychology

(marks 1)
c. Which discipline is interested in whether an individual’s behaviour conforms to
evolutionary predictions? (please tick 1 box)

	Human behavioural ecology
	Evolutionary psychology

(marks 1)
d. Which discipline is interested in the specific psychological mechanisms that
cause a behaviour? (please tick 1 box)

	Human behavioural ecology
	Evolutionary psychology

(marks 1)
7. In Week 2 we discussed parental investment. Below is a list of 8 behaviours, 4 would be
considered measures of parental investment according to the broader definition of
parental investment provided by Clutton-Brock (1991). Which of the listed behaviours
would be considered a measure of parental investment? (please tick 4 boxes)

       

Breastfeeding a child Attracting a mate to produce a child Storing of fat necessary to have a child Attachment or bonding between parents and infants Competition between males to mate with a female and produce a child Education for a child Developing reproductive organs to produce a child Risk associated with protecting a child