CARTA Glossary

The inner cell mass of the human blastocyst, the rapidly dividing fertilized egg at four to seven days post fertilization. ESCs are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into all cell types of the three embryonic tissue layers.

A species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either locally or worldwide.

Substances that interfere with the normal function of the endocrine system. These can be present in the environment (air, soil, or water supply), food sources, personal care products, and manufactured products.

The innermost of the three primary germ layers formed in embryonic development and develops into some of the body’s internal organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, the urinary tract, the respiratory tract, endocrine glands, and the auditory system.

A condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain.

A protein encoding gene for EPAS1. This gene is implicated in high altitude adaptation in humans, specifically in Tibetan populations that admixed with Denisovan archaic hominins and inherited this advantageous gene variant.

The cell type that forms the interior lining of blood and lymphatic vessels, and controls the transfer of materials, including white blood cells, into and out of the bloodstream.

Viruses that possess an outer lipid membrane formed by cell membrane of the host cells from which the virus buds. The envelope protects the virus as it travels between hosts and cells.

The rapid spread of a disease to a significant percent of a given population.

Biological information not encoded directly in DNA.

A term first coined in 1942 by the developmental biologist, Conrad Waddington, to explain how a singular genotype might produce variations in phenotype across development. He argued that some level of regulation must exists “above” or “over” genes to determine when and where they are expressed. Today the term refers to stable alterations in gene expression without changes to the underlying DNA sequence.

The cultural, social and economic transformation from Paleolithic mobile foraging peoples to Neolithic super-communities that became the first large-scale sedentary societies in southwest Asia. The transformation is marked by accelerating cultural and technical innovation, accompanied by large-scale demographic, cultural, social, and economic change. The ENT is seen as an inflection point in the rate of human cultural evolution, leading on to socio-economic and political inequality, urbanism, kingdoms and empires in the following millennia.

1. A tissue consisting of one or more layers of compactly joined cells of various types and sizes that cover a surface or line a cavity. 2. Pertaining to or involving the outer layer of the skin. Also called epithelium.

The most common type of blood cell and the vertebrate’s principal means of oxygen delivery from lungs or gills to all tissues of the body. Erythrocytes of most mammals do not contain a nucleus with chromosomes.

The category of sex hormones that includes estrone, estradiol, and estriol that are involved in the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. Estrogen is the precursor to testosterone.

A methodological and analytical process by archaeologists for reconstructing features of a prehistoric society and culture that leaves no direct archaeological imprint.

An intravenous agent used for general anesthesia and sedation for short procedures that suppresses corticosteroid synthesis.

Organisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within membranes.

A form of social structure featuring cooperative brood care, overlapping generations of adults, and a reproductive and non-reproductive division of labor. Eusociality is observed in ants, bees, wasps, termites, the naked mole-rats, and some shrimp. Humans may engage in a weak form of eusociality but this is still debated.

The EvoDevo approach stresses that evolution yields biological mechanisms for both development and adult function of members of a species. The EvoDevoSocio framework adds that development is shaped not only by the genome but also by the physical and (especially in humans) the social environment in which the individual develops. To close the loop, humans in turn shape the environment and so cultural evolution has played a crucial role in changing the social, physical and increasingly symbolic and technological environments in which most humans now develop.

The application of modern evolutionary theory to understanding health and disease.

The study of the evolution and natural history of nervous system structure, functions, and emergent properties.

An archaeological site in Western Galilee, Israel, with evidence for hominin occupation up to 1 million years ago and tools and fire use dating to around 800,000 years ago.

A chemical messenger that increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire an electrical signal (depolarization of the membrane) called an action potential.

A type of extracellular vesicle that contain constituents (protein, DNA, and RNA) of the cells that secrete them. They are taken up by distant cells, where they can affect cell function and behavior.

A paired macrostructure in the brain that is involved in reward cognition.

Human-specific (malignant) malaria caused by the protozoan parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.

The ability to recognize that others can have beliefs about the world that are diverging. An important component of Theory of Mind.

A male parent, typically referring to the biological or legal male figure who contributes to the creation and/ or upbringing of a child. The term “father” can also be used more broadly to describe a paternal figure in various cultural, religious, or metaphorical contexts, such as the “father” of a nation or a profession.

A molecule composed of a long chain of lipid-carboxylic acid, which is either saturated (single bonds between the components of the fatty acid chain) or unsaturated (at least one double bond within the fatty acid chain).

Medical plastic surgery of the female genitalia, such as labiaplasty.

The relative numbers of individuals capable of having children. In female-biased situations, males face less competition for mating opportunities. In male-biased situations, these opportunities are lower, thus greater male-male competition for each one.

The tunnel of epithelial tissue that surrounds a healed piercing channel.

Replaced all other alleles in a population.

Stories, sayings, dances, material culture, and other customs shared by a group of people.

An inanimate object or substance that is capable of transmitting infectious organisms from one individual to another.

The point in time when a foot (or hand in the forelimb) first touches the ground.

Searching for wild food or provisions as opposed to cultivating food crops or breeding livestock.

A digestive process in which plant materials are fermented in a specialized combination of stomach compartments together called the reticulorumen. In ruminants, the fermented cud of the reticulorumen is regurgitated and chewed again to further break down the plant material, a process called rumination. After rumination, the food is finally digested in other stomach compartments, the omasum and abomsum (true stomach). Foregut fermentation also exists in some species that do not ruminate, such as leaf monkeys.

The act of piercing without the use of forceps.

Human frontal and parietal lobes form a network that is crucially involved in the selection of sensory contents by attention.

A neuroimaging technique for measuring and mapping brain activity that is noninvasive and safe. The phenomenon of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is used to generate a signal that can be mapped and turned into an image of brain activity.

A class of membrane proteins that act as receptors for the neurotransmitter GABA and are mostly found on inhibitory neurons.

A number of species of prosimians that are small, nocturnal, and native to continental Africa. Also known as bushbabies. Galagos often nest in tree hollows during the day. Chimpanzees have been observed hunting with “spears” for nested galagos, and they are also hunted by Hadza hunter-gatherers.

A genus of Gram-variable-staining facultative anaerobic bacteria of which Gardnerella vaginalis is the only species.

Inflammation of the stomach and small intestine typically caused by a virus, but can also be caused by bacteria, parasites, and fungi. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

1. A standard of dimensions or measurement – in body jewelry, the thickness. 2. Slang for the act of “stretching” a piercing.

A slang term for stretching a piercing