Biological Anthropology Presented by Abigail Atiwag Biological Anthropology Biological anthropology is a branch of anthropology that focuses on the biological aspects of humans and their relatives Let s delve into its key areas Human Evolution Evolutionary Theories Biological anthropologists study various evolutionary theories such as Darwin s theory of natural selection to understand the mechanisms driving human evolution over time Fossil Evidence Fossil evidence including skeletal remains footprints and artifacts provides insights into the evolutionary history of humans and their ancestors Discoveries like Lucy Australopithecus afarensis and Homo habilis fossils contribute to our understanding of early hominids Hominid Species Biological anthropologists examine hominid species including Homo sapiens modern humans Homo neanderthalensis Neanderthals Homo erectus Australopithecines and other extinct and ancestral species They analyze morphological genetic and behavioral traits to reconstruct the evolutionary timeline of human ancestors Genetics and Human Variation DNA Analysis Advances in DNA analysis techniques allow biological anthropologists to study genetic variation heredity gene flow mutations and ancestry among human populations Genetic studies provide insights into human origins migrations and population dynamics Genetic Traits Biological anthropologists investigate genetic traits adaptations susceptibility to diseases and genetic markers to understand human diversity and health disparities across populations Population Genetics Population genetics examines allele frequencies genetic drift gene flow and natural selection within and between human populations contributing to our understanding of genetic variation and evolution Human Migration Patterns Genetic analyses and archaeological evidence help trace human migration patterns dispersals and interactions across continents and regions throughout history Primatology Study of Primates Primatology focuses on studying primates including monkeys apes and humans to understand their behavior ecology social structures and evolutionary relationships Primate Behavior Primatologists observe and analyze primate behavior such as feeding habits social interactions mating strategies communication tool use and cultural behaviors among different primate species Social Structures Comparative studies between humans and primates shed light on social structures hierarchies cooperation conflict resolution altruism parenting and kinship systems in primate societies Comparative Anatomy Biological anthropologists compare the anatomy physiology brain structures and genetics of humans and primates to identify shared traits evolutionary adaptations and divergent characteristics between species Biological anthropology plays a crucial role in understanding human evolution genetic diversity primate behavior and the complex interplay between biology culture and environment in shaping human societies and our place in the natural world THANK YOU