How have geographical factors shaped different human ethnicities through evolution and why?
This requires a delicate answer. Evolution doesn't justify anything. But it does explain some things. It's obvious to superficial examination that what we call "races" have distinctive characteristics. Often it's the race's own members who emphasize them to create stronger bonds within the group. Japanese will tell you very clearly that they look quite different from Chinese or Koreans, and that they're rather happy about it. These differences are due to genetic drift over time by populations of humans that rarely interbreed with other groups. The changes are both cosmetic and deep. African blacks are more prone to sickle-cell anemia, for example. Lactose intolerance is not evenly spread around the world. The problem arises when these differences are interpreted as making a dissimilar group seem less than equally human. That's when the dark meaning of racism appears. If a member of one race can look into the eyes of a member of another race and see only humanity, all is well. It's when one race looks at another as subhuman that suppression and genocide seem justified. All races have cleverness, intelligence, creativity, passion, and athleticism. Evolution hasn't changed that.
Evolutionary theories often emphasize that humans have adapted to their physical environment. One such theory?
Can someone please help me with this question? Evolutionary theories often emphasize that humans have adapted to their physical environment. One such theory hypothesizes that people should spontaneously follow a 24-hour cycle of sleeping and waking—even if they are not exposed to the usual pattern of sunlight. To test this notion, eight paid volunteers were placed (individually) in a room in which there was no light from the outside and no clocks or other indications of time. They could turn the lights on and off as they wished. After a month in the room, each individual tended to develop a steady cycle. Their cycles at the end of the study were as follows: 25, 27, 25, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 25.
Do species change their environment or does it change them?
It is a bit of both really. Species are adapted to suit their environment and they adapt to suit it so in that sense it changes them BUT, they also utilise the environment and change for example: Beavers make Dams, Moles make tunnels. Humans are another good example Basically. Animals change the environment AND it changes them