Introduction to Human Evolution Anthropology 102 Section M1W3: M, W 1:40 - 2:55 PMKY150Professor: Kate Pechenkina, Ph. D.Office: Powdermaker Hall 312ATelephone: (718) 997-5529Fax: (718) 997-2885E-mail: [email protected] Office hours: Tuesday 1:30 PM to 3:30 PMWeb-page:http://qcpages.qc.edu/ANTHRO/pechenkina/pechenkina.htmlEvolution is one of the central, unifying theories of biological science. As Theodor Dobjansky wrote "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution". This course pursues an integrative approach to the study of human evolution. We will begin by introducing the scientific method and discussing how it applies to the study of biological evolution. This discussion is followed by an introduction to the fundamentals of evolutionary theory. We will examine forces that affect populations of living organisms, leading to evolutionary change over time. This portion of the course is illustrated by examples of human variation and discussion of the extent to which this variation can be explained by the forces of evolution. After the first exam, we will introduce the Order Primatis and discuss its origins. We will continue by discussing morphological and behavioral variation among nonhuman primates in order to gain perspective on the evolution of human biology and behavior. Then we trace the fossil record leading from the first primates to modern humans, focusing on the biological and behavioral changes that have occurred during the course of human evolution. Finally, we will look at evolutionary factors that have defined biological and genetic variation among modern humans.Textbook: Clark Spencer Larsen. 2008. Our Origins.GradingYour grade will be based on three exams, as well as homework assignments. If you are unable to attend class on a day when an assignment is due, you may submit it via e-mail or fax. Late assignments submitted before the final examination will receive a maximum of 80% credit. In other words:-- 20% WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM ALL LATE ASSIGNMENTS. -- EXAMS CAN BE MADE UP ONLY ON THE DAY OF THE FINAL EXAMINATION Lecture /Exam ScheduleAssignments 10%Exam 1 10/15 30 % covers weeks 1-8 Exam 211/1230 % covers weeks 9-12Final Exam12/17 1:45-3:45 PM30 % covers weeks 13-17Lateness Arriving late to class disrupts the lecture and is disrespectful to others. Attendance sheets will be available for signing only at the beginning of each class period, so you will lose participation points if you are more than 5 minutes late to class.Cell phones should be put on vibrate and cannot be used during the classYou are expected to observe the University’s standards for academic behavior. Homework and exam answers must be your own. Students whose assignments repeat verbatimparts of the assignments submitted by other students will be given 0 points for the assignment, will loose all extra-credit points accumulated through the semester and will be reported to the office of the vice-president for student affairs.Scheduleweek date topic readings assignm.1 8/27 Introduction, Physical Anthropology and Evolution Ch. 1: All2 9/19/3Labor Day -- no classThe cell, the DNA, and everything else Ch. 3: 53-64, 3 9/89/10Mitosis-meiosis (figs. 3.14; 3.15) Introduction to Mendelian genetics Ch. 3: 64-79, Ch 2:41-43Assign. 14 9/159/17Population genetics, Hardy-Weinberg Forces of evolution: natural selection Ch. 4: 85-96, 98-99 green boxCh. 4: 96-108 5 9/229/24Forces of evolution: mutation, genetic drift, gene flow Human variation as a result of microevolutionCh. 4: 108-116 Ch 5: 119-123; Assign. 26 9/2910/1no classno class7 10/610/8Human variation: adaptationsno classCh 5: 134-1508 10/1310/1410/15Columbus Day – no classFrom microevolution to macroevolution; Review EXAM 19 10/2010/22fossil record – an overview Mesozoic mammals, primate originhttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.htmlCh 7: 199-21110 10/2710/29Order Primates, overview Primate taxonomy Ch 6:153-183 Assign. 311 11/311/5Primate ecological nichePrimate SocietiesCh 6:183-193 Assign. 412 11/1011/12Primate Origins and evolutionEXAM 2Ch 8: all13 11/1711/19Intro to Hominids; Adaptations to bipedalityAustralopithsAppendix: the skeleton; Fig 6.30-6.31Ch 9: all 14 11/2411/26Australopiths, continuedGenus Homo; Homo habilis Ch 9: allCh 10: 303-308Assign. 515 12/112/3Early Pleistocene Hominids: Homo erectus Middle & Late Pleistocene Hominids: archaic Homo sapiens and NeanderthalsCh 10: 309-328; Fig. 11.43Ch 11: 331-35416 12/812/10Anatomically Modern HumansModern humans in HoloceneCh 11: 355-370Ch 12: 381-384; 406-415Assign. 617 12/15 ReviewFINAL EXAMINATION:Wednesday, 12/17; 1:45 to 3:45 PM, Kiely