Principles of Biological Anthropology BIO A 201 (Winter 2002)


Instructor | TAs | Description | Times | Readings | Grading | Labs | Exams | Topics
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Final | Links

Instructor: Darryl J. Holman
M43 Denny Hall
206-543-7586
Office hours: Wed 2:30-3:30 (M43 Denny Hall), Immediately after class (223 Anderson)
djholman@u.washington.edu.

Teaching Assistant: Isabelle Sarton-Miller
407
Denny Hall
Office hours: Fri 12:30-2:20
imiller@u.washington.edu.

Teaching Assistant: Lorraine O'Neal
407 Denny Hall
Office hours: Mon, Wed 2:30-3:30
ldoneal@u.washington.edu.


Description

This course is an introduction to biological anthropology, including topics like the evolution of humans, human biological diversity, and human adaptation. We will begin with an introduction to evolutionary theory and genetics. We will then take a brief look at the biology and behavior of our closest relatives, the non-human primates. Next, we Will turn our attention to the paleontological record and use fossilized bones, teeth, and stone tools in order to reconstruct the evolution of humans and other primates. Finally, we will examine living humans and biological diversity among people.

Times

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 2:30 to 3:50 p.m. in 223 Anderson . Attend all lectures, as lectures will frequently include material beyond what is in the textbook.

Readings

The textbook for this course is Biological Anthropology, 3rd edition, 2001, by Michael Alan Park, published by McGraw-Hill-Mayfield. Essentially, we will work our way through the entire book.

Grading

Your course grade will be determined by three components. The first is an in-class midterm that will make up 35% of your grade. The second is a final exam that will make up 45% of your final grade. Finally, work in the laboratory section will make up 20% of your grade.

Laboratory sections

You are required to meet once a week in lab sections with the teaching assistants. All sections meet in 449 Denny Hall . The lab section provides you with an opportunity to discuss, clarify, and expand upon the lecture and readings materials. Additionally, you will get some hands-on exercises and small-group learning exercises. Quizzes, exercises, and homework in these sections count for 20% of your grade. There will be 2 quizzes and 4 homework assignments. Any assignment or quiz that you fail to hand in will receive a grade of zero. Grades for late assignments will depreciate by 10% per day, including any fraction of a day late. For example, if you would have gotten a 95% on an assignment, it depreciates to 85.5% for being one day late, 77% by for 2 days late, and so on.

Exams

There will be two exams given: an in-class mid-term examination and a final exam. Both exams will be multiple choice; they will include material from the textbook, lectures, and the laboratory sections. The midterm exam, given on Feb 8, will make up 35% your grade. The final exam will make up 45% of your grade. The final exam will largely cover material from the second half of the quarter, but will include material from the entire course. The final exam will be given in the classroom (223 Anderson) from 4:30-6:20 p.m., Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2002. Students will be offered alternative exam formats only when required by DSS. A make-up exam will not be given unless the student arranges for it in advanced and has a valid medical or legal excuse.


Topics and Schedule

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Final | Links

Week 1

Jan 8, Course introduction. What is biological anthropology?

  • Chapter 1
  • Overheads Jan 8
  • Jan 10, Science and the scientific method

  • Chapter 1
  • Overheads Jan 10
  • Interested in doing research? Check out the Undergraduate Research Program
  • Science and Creationism A View from the National Academy of Sciences
  • Jan 11, The history of evolutionary theory-I

  • Chapter 2
  • Overheads Jan 11
  • Week 2

    Jan 15, The history of evolutionary theory-II

  • Chapter 2
  • Overheads Jan 15
  • Jan 17, Evolutionary genetics-DNA

  • Chapter 3
  • Overheads Jan 17
  • Jan 18, Evolutionary genetics-Traits and inheritance

  • Chapter 3
  • Overheads Jan 18
  • Week 3

    Jan 22, Evolutionary theory-I

  • Chapter 4
  • Overheads Jan 22
  • Jan 24, Evolutionary theory-II

  • Chapter 4
  • Overheads Jan 24
  • Jan 25, Species and evolution-I

  • Chapter 5
  • Overheads Jan 25
  • Week 4

    Jan 29, Species and evolution-II

  • Chapter 5
  • Take-home quiz handed out (Due Feb 1)
  • Overheads Jan 29
  • Jan 31, An evolutionary timetable

  • Chapter 6
  • Online geological time scale.
  • Overheads Jan 31
  • Feb 1, Primates-I

  • Chapter 7
  • Take-home quiz due
  • Online introduction to the living primates.
  • Overheads Feb 1
  • Week 5

    Feb 5, Primates-II

  • Chapter 7
  • See and hear some African primates by Dr M K Holder
  • Handout Feb 5
  • Slides Feb 5
  • Feb 7, Video: The New Chimpanzees

  • Chapter 7
  • Chimpanzee and Human Communication Insitute
  • Slides Feb 7
  • Feb 8, In-Class Midterm Exam (Covers material through Feb 7)

  • Chapter 1-7
  • Week 6

    Feb 12, Primate behavior-I

  • Chapter 8
  • Overheads Feb 12
  • Feb 14, Primate behavior-II

  • Chapter 8
  • ChimpCam Chimps in their play room
  • Overheads Feb 14
  • Feb 15, The human skeleton

  • eSkeletons Interactively study and view the human skeleton, baboon skeleton, gorilla skeleton, and more
  • Chapter 9
  • Overheads Feb 15
  • Week 7

    Feb 19, Fossils and ancient DNA

  • Chapter 9
  • Overheads Feb 19
  • Feb 21, Hominid evolution-I

  • Chapter 10
  • Early primate evolution
  • 5.8 MY old hominid recently found. Read about it in Time or the San Francisco Chronicle
  • Overheads Feb 21
  • Feb 22, Hominid evolution-II

  • Chapter 10
  • Overheads Feb 22
  • Week 8

    Feb 26, The evolution of Homo-I

  • Chapter 11
  • Human origins site
  • Overheads Feb 26
  • Feb 28, The evolution of Homo-II

  • Chapter 11
  • Overheads Feb 28
  • Mar 1, The origins of modern Homo sapiens

  • Chapter 12
  • Overheads Mar 1
  • Neanderthals and modern Homo sapiens: Analysis of bones suggest they are the same species.
  • Analysis of DNA says they are not
  • Reanalysis suggest interbreeding.

    Week 9

    Mar 5, The study of living humans-I

  • (Video: Neantertals on Trial)
  • Chapter 13
  • Mar 7, The study of living humans-II

  • Chapter 13
  • Overheads Mar 7
  • Discover: Why we take risks
  • Mar 8, Human biological diversity-I

  • Chapter 14
  • Overheads Mar 8
  • Week 10

    Mar 12, Human biological diversity-II

  • Chapter 14
  • Genes Reveal Gypsies' Past
  • Overheads Mar 12
  • Mar 14, Video: The Ice Man

  • Chapter 15
  • An Ice Man news site
  • Overheads Mar 14
  • Mar 15, Applied biological anthropology

  • Chapter 15
  • Overheads Mar 15
  • Final Exam

    Mar 19, (Tuesday) Final exam, 4:30-6:20 p.m., 223 Anderson.

  • Multiple choice
  • Closed-book
  • About 70 questions
  • Chapter 1-15, with greater emphasis on material since midterm
  • Bring:

  • #2 Pencil(s)
  • Scantron form (fill in name/id information ahead of time!)
  • Calculator is NOT needed!

  • Links

  • Full course syllabus
  • links