ANTH 556: Human Growth and Development
ANTH 556-001: Human Growth and Development
(Spring 2018)
01:30 PM to 02:45 PM MW
David J. King Hall 2084
Section Information for Spring 2018
Anth 350/556 is an intensive, graduate lecture and seminar focusing on the evolution of human life history. This course explores the genetic basis for human development, morphological studies that help reveal variation in human development in the past, and how variation in life history provides fascinating insights into the evolutionary processes that shaped and currently shape modern human biological variation. The first component of the course introduces patterns of growth and development in humans and reviews human anatomy and physiology, concluding with a review of the methods used to assess life history in living and past human societies. The interaction of genetic and environmental processes on human phenotypic variation is then addressed. Introduction to concepts including plasticity of development, canalization, and adaptation are included in this section of the course. The second portion of the course focuses on the comparison of human and non-human primate developmental processes in an attempt to understand the fundamental differences in growth rates and durations between the two groups. This section specifically addresses variation in brain and cranial growth, dental growth, sexual maturity, and other such topics. Reviews of paleontological studies of life-history then explain the course of modern human life history over time and divergences between human and non-human primates. Finally, comparisons of life history among and between modern human groups are presented with an emphasis on developmental responses to environmental variation.
Course Information from the University Catalog
Credits: 3
Enrollment limited to students with a class of Advanced to Candidacy, Graduate, Junior Plus, Non-Degree or Senior Plus.
Enrollment is limited to Graduate, Non-Degree or Undergraduate level students.
Students in a Non-Degree Undergraduate degree may not enroll.
This course is graded on the Graduate Regular scale.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.