Course syllabus

 

 

SEMESTER 2, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor: 

 Nicholas Malone - n.malone@Auckland.ac.nz 

Teacher:

 Nicholas Malone - n.malone@Auckland.ac.nz 

 

Course delivery format:

Lectures:

Monday 10 – 11 am

Room 301-G050 (Science -  Chemistry, Room G050)

Wednesday 2-3 pm

Room 201N-346 (Social Sciences - North, Rm 346)

 

Tutorials/Labs:

Room 201E-706

A one-hour lab session per week starting in Week 2

 

Summary of Course Description:              

 In this course we introduce you to some of the big questions of how humans evolve. The course is an introduction to biological anthropology; the study of human and non-human primate biological variation over time, and the relationship of that variation to the worlds we inhabit: social, cultural and physical. Biological anthropologists study human evolution and human ecology at a range of different levels, from the gene to the population.

In Anthropology at the University of Auckland we are involved in the analysis of skeletons from the past (e.g., Bronze Age Mongolia, pre-contact Australia), primate studies (Indonesia, Africa), infectious disease, growth and development of contemporary populations (Taiwan, New Zealand), human behaviour in the context of economic change (China), changes in health and migration (Pacific) and the genetics of environmental change (Pacific, Australia).

Our past and present students have gone on to work in diverse areas: archaeological consulting, museum work, teaching, community work, public health research and clinical research.

Synopsis:

Humans are part of the diverse primate order united by an emphasis on sociality, diversity and flexibility. We are subject to the same evolutionary forces as other species. However, very few genes involve a direct path from the gene to the trait; even sex is not that straight forward. Genetic drift was probably important in the past and is certainly evident in studies of inbreeding. However, human populations are dominated by gene flow. Nevertheless natural selection is important in both our past history and in our relationships with the world today. But more broadly humans inherit both genes and culture so that human evolution in the past is in some parts more about gene-culture coevolution than genes alone. As such, understanding humankind’s evolutionary journey, including the interpretation of the fossil record, is a very complex task. However we can trace some of that history with molecules. The history of humans also involves the evolution of human life history and human social systems. Humans are biocultural beings so our biology is interpenetrated with culture and that is particularly clear when we look at characteristics like skin colour. So while we share biological characteristics our biology is also local. Genes are important but not everything. And yes humans are still evolving and evolution is still important in understanding how the world works.

 Course outcomes:

• Demonstrate your ability to undertake library research in biological anthropology;
• Be able to express your ideas clearly, demonstrating an understanding of the scientific process, including the differences between theory, data, and interpretation;
• Be able to examine some of the evidence used in biological anthropology (fossils, behavioural and biological data) and draw inferences;
• Understand and be able to apply evolutionary concepts;
• Be able to describe the broad course of human evolution as currently understood.

 Assessment Summary:

 

Task	Value	Due Dates
Lecture quizzes	5%  (Best 7 marks out of 10)	To be administered in Wednesday’s lecture – one quiz per week commencing Week 3
Lab assignments (8 in total)	20%	Starting week 2
Annotated bibliography (500 words)	5%	Due end of Week 5  (19 August)
Essay (1500 words)	20%	Due end of Week 9  (30 September)
Exam	50% (2 hours, multiple choice)	Exam Period; TBA

 

Prescribed Texts:

Required: Fuentes, A. 2012. Biological Anthropology: Concepts and Connections. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Recommended Texts:

For each lecture there are additional resources for you to read to gain a fuller understanding of the topic and broaden your range. These are available through links on Canvas.

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.