Essentials of Biological Anthropology

Essentials of Biological Anthropology

Anthropology 260

PH311
Professor: Kate Pechenkina, Ph. D.
office: Powdermaker Hall 312A
telephone: (718) 997-5529
e-mail:
office hours: Monday 3:00 - 4:00 PM

This course is an in-depth overview of the method and theory of biological anthropology, in which we strive to solidify student understanding of the key concepts via in-class discussions and hands-on exercises. During the first half of the semester we will focus on the fundamentals of evolutionary theory and genetics as background material, as well as evolutionary factors that defined biological and genetic variation among modern humans. Next, we will trace the fossil record of human evolution back from modern humans to the earliest hominids and from there back to the first non-human primates.
Grading
Your grade will be based on midterm and final exams, as well as problem sets, reports, and lab assignments. Being absent from class does not excuse you from turning in the assigned work on time. Late assignments submitted BEFORE the final examination will receive a maximum of 60% credit.

Lecture Quiz/Exam Schedule

Problem-sets, labs, participation	40 %
Midterm (10/19)	30 % covers weeks 1-7
Final (Monday, 12/14 11:00 am - 1:00 pm)	30 % covers weeks 8-15

Textbook: The Human Species, 7th Edition. by John Relethford
Additional academic articles will be assigned

Syllabus

week

dates

Topics

Quizzes, Labs

readings

1

8/31

9/2

Introduction

Evolution overview, Cell, DNA, RNA

Ch. 1:3-11

Ch 2:33-43

2

9/7

9/9

No class

Mendelian genetics

sample problems

Ch 2: 43-52

Ch 2: 52-69

3

9/14

9/16

Mendelian genetics, continued

Population genetics, Hardy-Weinberg theorem

.
Problem set 1

Ch 3: 71-77; appendix 1:A1-A2

4

9/21

9/23

Forces of evolution, Natural selection

Natural Selection, continued

Ch 3: 77-86

Appendix 1: A-4,5,6

Ch 15:417-431

5

9/29

9/30

Mutations, gene flow

Ch. 3: 87-91

Ch. 3: 91-101, appendix 1: A-4,8,9

6

10/5

10/7

Human variation

Human adaptations

Ch 13,

Ch 16: All

7

10/12

10/14

no class

Ch 17:463-482

Ch 17: 482-490

8

10/19

10/21

MIDTERM EXAMINATION

Genes, history, ancestry

Ch 14: all

9

10/26

10/28

Multiregional Continuity or Single Origin

Archaic Homo sapiens, Neanderthals

Ch 12: all

Ch 11: 328-337

10

11/2

11/4

Early Pleistocene Hominids, origin of genus Homo

Allometry and human evolution: brain size, encephalization

Lab 1

Ch 11: 303-327

Ch 7: 191-195; additional readings

11

11/9

11/11

Family Hominidae, adaptations to bipedality

Lab 2

Ch 10:265-292

Ch 10:293-299, Ch 9:195-198

12

11/16

11/18

Cladistic analysis, Methods of phylogenetic analysis

Hominoids

Lab 3

Ch 4: all

13

11/23

11/25

Catarrhines and Platyrrhines

Tarsiers, Strepsirhines vs. Haplorhines

Ch 6: all

Ch 6: all

14

11/30

12/02

Lemurs and Lorises, Primate evolution

First mammals; Origins of first primates

Lab 4

Ch 9 243-262

15

12/07

12/09

Primate ecology

Review

FINAL EXAM: Monday, 12/14 11:00 am - 1:00 pm