❀ Anthropology 5 ❀

Introduction to Biological Anthropology

Fall 2018
Lecture – COB 102
T/Th 11-12:15
Labs – SSM 107

Professor:
Dr. Christina Torres-Rouff
ctorres-rouff@ucmerced.edu
Office Hours T/Th 12:15-1:15
SSM 341

Teaching Assistants (TAs):

Michael Blonski (mblonski)
Alyson Caine (acaine)
Adam Fleenor (afleenor)
Crystina Galarza (cgalarza5)
Gina Palefsky (gpalefsky)
Katherine Shurik (ashurik)
Mirko de Tomassi (mdetomassi)
Lilly Vargas (lbuckley3)

Course Description and Learning Goals

This is a survey of biological anthropology designed to introduce the

fundamentals of the discipline including evolution, genetics, and inheritance, non-
human primate morphology and behavior, ancient humans, the human skeleton, and
how natural selection has shaped modern human variation. We will engage with the
Anthropology Program’s learning outcomes, including:
I. Possess and apply fundamental knowledge of biological anthropology,
including terminology, concepts, intellectual traditions, and theoretical
approaches.
II. Identify and analyze common topics of research shared by the sub-fields of
anthropology.
III. Understand ethics and responsibility in anthropology.
IV. Recognize and appreciate what it means to be human and how
anthropological knowledge contributes to that understanding.
V. Understand both qualitative and quantitative research methods as they apply to
anthropological inquiry.

More specifically, by the end of the course, you will be able to:
• Define and explain the processes of evolution and genetic inheritance
• Identify characteristics of non-human primates and their behavior and ecology
• Enumerate all of the bones of the skeleton and discuss skeletal morphology
• Draw a phylogeny of human evolution based on evidence from the fossil record
• Evaluate current taxonomic debates in paleoanthropology
• Explain how processes of human evolution have led to contemporary human
variation
Biological Anthropology - 1
Required Reading
¤ Larsen, CS. 2016. Essentials of Physical Anthropology. 3rd Edition. New York: WW
Norton (marked on syllabus as Essentials)
¤ Additional required articles and lab worksheets will be available on CatCourses
and announced over the course of the semester

Grading
Your grade is based on four mostly non-cumulative objective exams and your work in
lab (including participation and lab activities). Each exam is worth 20% of your grade as
is lab (20 x 5 =100). You will need to bring a green (882-E) scantron to each exam and a
number 2 pencil. There are NO make-up exams except in the case of a legitimate and
verified emergency.

Lab Sections
All labs occur in SSM 107. There is no lab the first week of the semester. Labs begin on
Monday 8/27. Please bring a full-size blue book to your first lab section to submit
responses to lab quizzes, etc.

Student Responsibilities & Course Policies

Please check CatCourses and your UCM email regularly for class notifications. You are
responsible for all information sent electronically.

Be prepared for class by reading and taking notes on what is assigned for the class
meeting. All readings, whether discussed in class or not, are subject matter that can be
tested on. Students are responsible for their own note taking. Lecture notes will not be
given to students who miss class. PowerPoint presentations will not be posted. Students
should put forth their best effort on all work.

All students are expected to treat their fellow students, teaching assistants, and me with
respect. Minimally, this means not disrupting the lecture or lab. It also means treating
the opinions of your fellow students in a respectful manner during discussion. Cell
phones and similar devices must be turned off and stowed during class. Courtesy and
attentiveness in the classroom is expected.

Academic Honesty
Students must understand and abide by the UC Merced Academic Honesty Policy:
http://studentlife.ucmerced.edu/sites/studentlife/files/public/documents/academicho
nestypolicy.pdf. In keeping with this policy, all work submitted by a student in this course
for credit must be the student's individual work unless otherwise indicated by me.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

UC Merced is committed to ensuring equal academic opportunities and inclusion for
students with disabilities based on the principles of independent living, accessible
universal design and diversity. I am available to discuss appropriate academic
accommodations that may be required for students with disabilities. Requests for
academic accommodations are to be made during the first two weeks of the
semester, except for unusual circumstances, and the Disability Services Center must
verify eligibility for appropriate accommodations.

Biological Anthropology - 2
Course Outline and Assignments

Date Topic Readings

Th
Introduction to course
8/23
Unit 1: Evolution and Natural Selection
T Biological anthropology as a part of anthropology
Essentials 1
8/28 The Scientific Method
Th
Historical ideas of origins Essentials 2
8/30
T
Darwin and natural selection
9/4
Th
The importance of inheritance Essentials 3
9/6
T
Population genetics and Macroevolution Essentials 4
9/11
Th
FILM: NOVA – Epigenetics: The Ghost in your Genes
9/13
T
EXAM 1
9/18
Unit 2: Our Closest Relatives
Skeletal Anatomy I
Th
What is bone? pdf
9/20
Primate skeleton basics
T
Classification, Cladistics and Speciation Essentials 6
9/25
Th
The Living Primates Essentials 7, pdfs
9/27
T Guest Lecture, Jamin Shih
10/2 Adventures in Primatology
Th
FILM: Ape Genius
10/4
T What are fossils?
Essentials 8 & 9
10/9 Primate Origins and Evolution
Th
EXAM 2
10/11
Unit 3: Hominid Evolution
T Skeletal Anatomy II
10/16 Bipedalism, the cranium
Th Hominid Evolution I
Essentials 10, pdf
10/18 Early forms
T Hominid Evolution II
Essentials 11
10/23 Early Homo
Th Hominid Evolution III
Essentials 12
10/25 Later Homo

Biological Anthropology - 3
 T No Class – Dr. Torres-Rouff at the Latin American
10/30 Biological Anthropology Meetings
Th
FILM: Decoding Neanderthals
11/1
Hominid Evolution IV
T
Origin of modern humans and culture pdfs
11/6
Peopling of the Americas
Th
EXAM 3
11/8
Unit 4: Human Variation
T Skeletal Anatomy III
11/13 Forensics, Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology
Th Modern Human Biological Variation I
Essentials 5
11/15 Adaptations
T
No Class
11/20
Th
THANKSGIVING!
11/22
T Modern Human Biological Variation II
Essentials 13
11/27 The Agricultural Revolution
Th Modern Human Biological Variation III
11/29 The Future of Humans?
T
FILM: Race the Power of an Illusion
12/4
Th
EXAM 4
12/6

* All readings must be completed before class*

Biological Anthropology - 4