ANTH
1125: BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
I. Effective
Date: Spring, 2001
II. Catalog Description: People
as a product of bio-cultural evolution.
Principals of evolution, the fossil record, primate studies, population
genetics. Special lab topics.
III. Recommended Skills: No prerequisites.
IV. Course Content: All of these topics are
covered, but different instructors emphasize certain topics over others.
A.
Charles Darwin and the biological
theory of evolution
B.
Mendelian and molecular genetics
C.
The synthetic theory of evolution: a.
sources of variability b. natural
selection
D.
The species concept and the nature of
speciation
E.
Our place in nature: a. the
classification of human beings b.
unique and derived traits of human beings
F.
The fossil record and the history of
life
G.
The Primate Order: adaption to forests
H.
Primate behavior and ecology
I.
Comparative osteology and comparative
dentition
J.
The earliest hominids: adaptations to
the African savanna
K.
Homo Habilis, chipped stone tools, and
culture
L.
Homo Erectus and the peopling of Asia
and Europe
M.
Archaic Homo Sapiens and the
Neanderthals
N.
Modern Homo Sapiens
O.
Language
P.
Human genetic diversity: variation
between geographic groups (race; cline)
Q.
Human genetic diversity: variability
within a specified human group
R.
Selection in modern human groups
S.
Forensic Anthropology
T.
The limits of the scientific method
V. Outcomes: Students
completing this course will be able to
A.
To recognize and use terms and concepts
useful in discussing topics raised in this course
B.
To understand basic Mendelian and molecular
genetics well enough to solve very simple genetics problems and to understand evolutionary
theory.
C.
To outline the biological theory of
evolution and its history, to spell out the logic of its argument, and to
assess its radicalness, and to critique it.
D.
To survey non-human primates, their
behavior and ecology, and thereby identify distinctive human traits and adaptations.
E.
To trace hominid evolution in the
fossil record from the earliest australopithecines through Homo Sapiens and to
evaluate particular classification schemes and controversies
F.
To understand issues in biological
classification and gain some expertise in identifying and classifying particular
skeletal materials pertaining to contemporary primates as well as the fossil
record of primate and human evolution.
G.
To analyze information on human
variability by working with particular exercises in lab.
H.
To practice using specific approaches
to description, making comparisons and contrasts, and using evidence to support
or refute a hypothesis, in order to consider the strengths and limitations of science.
I.
To discuss the applications of
biological anthropology to current issues and to predicting the future of our
species.
VI. Evaluation: A number of
objective tests. At the discretion of
the instructor, one or more essays, attendance, and/or completion of lab
exercises.