What Is Kuru, and Why Was It Important That Anthropologists

question 28

Essay

What is kuru, and why was it important that anthropologists understand how it was transmitted? Which anthropologists investigated this condition in New Guinea, and how did their specific findings about the connection between kinship and funerary customs underscore the idea that illness is a facet of culture that must be understood holistically? Make sure to state what the conditions are that cause kuru, and discuss why the disease is not as much of a threat today.

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Definitions:

Homozygotes

Individuals having two identical alleles for a specific gene, resulting in the expression of that genetic trait.

Negative Frequency-Dependent Selection

Negative frequency-dependent selection occurs when rare genotypes have a fitness advantage simply because they are rare, helping to maintain genetic diversity within populations.

Pleiotropy

The genetic phenomenon where a single gene influences multiple phenotypic traits, demonstrating the complex nature of gene action.

Foraging Strategy

The behavioral patterns and techniques employed by animals, including humans, to find and gather food.