ANTH C1001L - Biological Anthropology Lab

Transfer Status

CSU/UC

Corequisite

Successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in ANTH C1001

Unit(s)

1.00

• Lab: 51.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/51.00 Total hours/1.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 51.00 Contact hours/0.00 Out of class hours/51.00 Total hours/1.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: In this laboratory course, students investigate the anatomy, genetics, behavior, variation, and evolution of humans and other primates. Students apply the scientific method and use interactive exercises in this course supplement to the Introduction to Biological Anthropology lecture course. (C-ID ANTH 155L).

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify and compare primate and hominin species in terms of their osteological, morphological, and/or behavioral adaptations.
2. Describe the principles of human inheritance, genetics, and evolutionary processes.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and an ability to interpret data to arrive at reasoned conclusions.
4. Relate classification to morphology and behavior of living primates.
5. Evaluate how the forces of evolution produce genetic and phenotypic change over time.
6. Describe the structure and function of DNA and RNA.
7. Describe the biological and behavioral adaptations of the genus Homo.
8. Identify the biological and cultural factors responsible for human variation.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

Lab

1. Class Activities
2. Collaborative Group Work
3. Demonstrations
4. Field Trips
5. Laboratory Experiments
6. Problem-Solving Sessions

1. Examples of potential methods of evaluation used to observe or measure students’ achievement of course outcomes and objectives could include, but are not limited to: laboratory exercises, practica, quizzes, projects, and research demonstrations. Methods of evaluation are at the discretion of local faculty.

Reading Assignments

1. Read Stephen Jay Gould's Ever Since Darwin. Apply Gould's understanding of our current views of evolution to human evolution. Use these works to discuss Darwin's contributions to the theory of evolution. Be prepared to discuss in class.
2. Read Katharine Milton's article: Diet and Primate Evolution (In Nutritional Anthropology: Biocultural Perspectives on Food and Nutrition; Mayfield). Be prepared to discuss this article in class in terms of implications for human evolution, especially as related to human cognition.

Writing Assignments

1. Make your way around the room starting at one of the six stations. Using Lab 9: Primate Taxonomy as your guide for each specimen available, fill in the morphological traits listed in the chart. Once you have completed a section in a station, write a 250-word paragraph discussing how each trait is diagnostic of the species you are describing.
2. Lab 10: Forensic Detectives require you to interact with the pelvis, cranium, and femurs of different human specimens. Use the lab instructions to determine the possible age, biological sex, presence or absence of degenerative arthritis, and whether the individual has given birth or experienced a pregnancy. Collect your data, fill in the forms and write a 1-2 page report on your findings.

Soluri, K. E., & Agarwal, S. C. (2019). Laboratory Manual and Workbook for Biological Anthropology. Norton, 2nd. 9780393697476.

Hens, S. (2021). Method and Practice in Biological Anthropology: A Workbook and Lab Manual for Introductory Courses. Pearson, 2nd. 9780133825862.

Walker-Pacheco, S. (2022). Exploring Physical Anthropology: A Lab Manual and Workbook. Morton, 4th. 978-1640432123.

Zero Cost Textbook

Shook, B. et. al. (Eds.). (2023). Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology. 2nd ed. (OER). https://pressbooks.calstate.edu/explorationsbioanth2/

Taylor-Hill, L. (2025). Calculations and Palpations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology Laboratory. (OER). https://www.calculationsandpalpations.org/

Other Learning Materials

Locally developed lab manual.

Anthropology (Masters Required)