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Courses in Biological Anthropology (Division 318)

This page was created at 3:50 PM on Wed, Dec 13, 2000.

Fall Term, 2000 (September 6 – December 22)

Open courses in Biological Anthropology

Wolverine Access Subject listing for ANTHRBIO

Take me to the Fall Term '00 Time Schedule for Biological Anthropology.

To see what has been added to or changed in Biological Anthropology this week go to What's New This Week.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Roberto Frisancho (arfrisan@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: (4). (NS). (BS). Does not count toward anthropology concentration requirements.

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

The course examine the evolutionary foundations of human variability. For this purpose, the course will deal with a review of principles of human evolution, fossil evidence, behavioral and morphological characteristics of human and non-human primates, human inter-population differences, and environmental factors that account for these differences. Lectures and recitation.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Rachel Caspari (rcaspari@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Junior standing. (4). (NS). (BS).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This course studies the relationship between the race concept and human evolution from historical and biological perspectives. Emphasis is placed on the connection between science and sociopolitical ideologies and policies, and on the origin of modern human diversity. Besides a basic review of human variation and its causes and an overview of Pleistocene, especially late Pleistocene human evolution, topics explored include the role of polygenism historically and in current scientific thought, biological determinism and scientific racism, the Holocaust and other examples of applied biology, the role of the race concept in conflicts over the place of Neandertals in human evolution and over the interpretation of their genetics, and current debates about the origin of modern humans. Throughout the course a focus will be maintained on the use of science to create and validate the race concept and the concomitant influence of sociopolitical concepts of race on scientific theories and scientific process.

Sections 001 through 011 meet the Upper-Level Writing requirement.

Instructor(s): John Mitani (mitani@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: (4). (NS). (BS).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: https://coursetools.ummu.umich.edu/2000/fall/lsa/anthrbio/368/001.nsf

This class will review the social systems and behavior of our closest living relatives, the primates. The course will be divided into three parts. I will begin by outlining questions about primate behavior. In this section the order primates will be introduced by examining the biology and behaviour of prosimians, monkeys and apes. Second, various aspects of social primate systems including spacing, mating and grouping patterns will be discussed. The course will conclude by reviewing selected topics of primate behavior, such as infanticide and vocal communication. I will draw heavily on field studies of primates and emphasize their behavior in natural enviornmental and social settings.

Instructor(s):

Prerequisites & Distribution: Senior standing and permission of instructor. (3). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT). May be repeated for credit twice.

Credits: (3; 2 in the half-term).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

Seniors who choose to enter the Honors program undertake a senior project under the supervision of a member of the faculty. Most often this takes the form of an original paper of greater scope than is possible in an ordinary term paper, and it gives the student experience in conducting and writing up his or her own research. Students who are interested in joining the senior Honors program should consult with the departmental Honors advisor for biological anthropology. Previous participation in the college Honors program is not a prerequisite for joining the senior Honors program.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Andrew Merriwether (andym@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Biol. Anthro. 450 and permission of instructor. (3). (Excl). (BS). Laboratory fee ($50) required.

Credits: (3).

Lab Fee: Laboratory fee ($50) required.

Course Homepage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~andym/451.html

This is a laboratory course where students will learn and employ some of the basic methodologies for collecting molecular genetic data. Methods include DNA extraction, PCR, electrophoresis, RFLP analyses, analysis of STR polymorphisms, and DNA sequencing. Class projects will include the collection and analysis of data.

Instructor(s):

Prerequisites & Distribution: Permission of instructor. (1-3). (Excl). A maximum of three credits of independent reading may be included in a concentration plan in anthropology. (INDEPENDENT). May be repeated for a total of six credits.

Credits: (1-3).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

Laboratory training and work in the techniques used in various aspects of research in biological anthropology.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Milford Wolpoff (wolpoff@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Biol. Anthro. 365 or 466. Primarily for biological anthropology concentrators. (4). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This course is about the origin of the human species and the life history of the earliest type of human – Australopithecus. It examines the ancestry of the hominids, the various theories of their origin, and aspects of australopithecine evolution such as their locomotion, behavior, adaptations, and taxonomy. Emphasis is placed on the application of evolutionary theory to species origins and mode of evolution, the biomechanical links of form to function, and the importance of the discovery of stone tools. The format includes lectures and a laboratory session. Evaluations are based on a paper, final exam, and laboratory tests and assignments. Prerequisite: Anthro. 365 or equivalent or more advanced class in evolution.

This page was created at 3:50 PM on Wed, Dec 13, 2000.

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