Principles of Biological Anthropology

Welcome to the homepage for Anthropology 105, Principles of Biological Anthropology!

Here you'll find all the readings, links and essential materials for the course. This homepage is a relatively simple outline of the course requirements and information from the syllabus, with a schedule of lectures linked to readings and visuals as they become available.

As usual, this page is a work in progress. I am actively writing new material and adding it to this page all the time. Some of the lectures and lab exercises will be moved around, so keep checking back a week or two before classes to keep up to date on the new materials.

If you're visiting from outside the UW classroom, welcome! All of the materials here are free for you to read and use in your classes.

Schedule

• Lecture 1 (Sept. 4): Introduction, the comparative method
• Lab 1: Skeletons and directions
• A quick start to the skeleton
• A quick start to anatomical directions
• Laboratory inquiry 1: Reconstructing ancestral primates
• Lecture 2 (Sept. 9): Species concepts, phylogeny, tree thinking
• Primate phylogeny and classification
• The normal distribution and anthropometrics
• Lecture 3 (Sept. 11): Tree thinking (cont.)
• Lab 2: Teeth
• Premolars
• Molars
• Incisors
• Canines
• Lecture 4 (Sept. 16): Teeth, primate phylogeny, life history
• Lecture 5 (Sept. 18): Primate body plan, phylogeny, life history
• Lab 3: Vertebrae and upper limb
• The different types of vertebrae
• Primate vertebral numbers
• Laboratory inquiry 1: Outgroup
• Primate limb proportions and locomotion
• Lecture 6 (Sept. 23): Primate social behavior
• Lab 4: Phylogeny project presentations
• Lecture 7 (Sept. 25): Diet and behavior
• Lecture 8 (Sept. 30): Hominin origins
• The feet of Australopithecus afarensis
• The pelvis of Australopithecus
• Lab 5: Pelvic anatomy, early hominins
• Structure of the pelvis
• Bipedality and the pelvis
• Australopithecus africanus
• Meet Ardipithecus
• Lecture 9 (Oct. 2): Australopithecines
• Lecture 10 (Oct. 7): Swartkrans (guest lecture)
• Lab 6: Skull anatomy, early Homo
• Homo habilis
• Australopithecus boisei
• African Homo erectus
• Australopithecus robustus
• Lecture 11 (Oct. 9): Early Homo
• Lecture 12 (Oct. 14): Archaic humans, communication
• Lab 7: Neandertals and modern human origins
• Asian Homo erectus
• Neandertal crania
• Neandertal postcrania
• Modern crania
• Mandibles of Neandertals and modern humans
• Lecture 13 (Oct. 16): Neandertals and genetics
• Lecture 14 (Oct. 21): Modern human origins and genetics
• Lab 8: Mystery fossil presentations
• Laboratory inquiry 3: Forensic case
• Lecture 15 (Oct. 23): New World population history
• Lecture 16 (Oct. 28): Personal genomics
• Lab 9: DNA and health prediction
• Reading a genetic map: the beta-globin gene cluster
• Eye pigmentation and allele frequencies
• Lecture 17 (Oct. 30) Genetics and adaptation: disease
• Lecture 18 (Nov. 4): Genetics and adaptation: altitude
• Genetic variation and the Hardy-Weinberg proportions
• Measuring difference between populations
• Lab 10: DNA and immunity
• Lecture 19 (Nov. 6): Genetics and adaptation: diet
• Lecture 20 (Nov. 11): Genetics and adaptation: pigmentation
• Why do people differ in skin color?
• Lecture 22 (Nov. 13): Race and health
• Lab 11: Forensics introduction
• The frontal bone
• The occipital bone
• Race and the skull
• Sex and the skull
• Laboratory inquiry 3: Forensic case
• Lecture 23 (Nov. 18): Race and health (cont.)
• Lecture 24 (Nov. 20): Race and history
• Lecture 25 (Nov. 25): Genetic differentiation
• Lab 12: Forensics: race and population differentiation
• Development of the long bones
• Paleopathology
• Deciduous teeth
• Wisdom teeth
• Lecture 26 (Nov. 27): Pregnancy and lactation
• Lecture 27 (Dec. 2): Growth and development
• Lab 13: Forensics: Sex and stature determination
• Predicting stature
• Sex and the mandible
• Sexual dimorphism of the pelvis
• Lecture 27 (Dec. 4): Bioarchaeology and paleodemography
• Lecture 28 (Dec. 9): Social networks
• Lab 14: Forensics project presentations
• Laboratory inquiry 3: Forensic case
• Lecture 29 (Dec. 11: Future of human evolution

Class policies

• The course has no textbook. Readings for each session are directly linked from here.
• Free readings do come with a cost: They are continually being compiled and revised as the semester proceeds. The readings are highly tailored to the time in the semester when you will need them.
• You’ll complete a short quiz in lecture sometime every week. Every quiz will be worth five points. 15 weeks. 75 points.
• The laboratory sections have inquiry-based laboratory exercises worth a total of 30 points.
• That makes 105 points altogether. Consider those 5 points above 100 as extra credit, if you like.
• If you are sick, please do not come to class. You may make up two quizzes. Contact your TA to arrange a makeup during her office hours.
• If you want an A, you’ll need to earn 93 points. 88 will earn you an AB. For a B, you’ll need 83 points. 78 will earn you a BC. 70 will earn a C, and 60 is a passing grade. In this class, you earn the points. We want to help you earn them!
• Skipping class is a really bad idea. Reading before every class will help you earn more points.
• The lab materials in this course are unique and irreplaceable, including human skeletal remains. Treat them with dignity and respect.