Time Schedule:
Gerald G Eck
BIO A 491
Seattle Campus
Addresses five major unanswered questions concerning human evolution as represented by the fossil record. Prerequisite: BIO A 389.
Class description
Although major strides have been made in our understanding of hominid evolution during the last quarter century, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. Some have remained perplexing since they were first asked in the mid to late 19th century, while other have been posed much more recently as our knowledge of human evolution has increased in detail. Five of these questions will be addressed in the course. These questions include: Why did human bipedalism arise? Just what did the robust australopithecines eat? What caused the divergence of genus Homo and the robust australopithecines? When did hominids occupy Europe and Asia? From what ancestry did Homo sapiens evolve?
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Consideration of each question will occupy approximately two weeks of the quarter. Lectures will provide a foundation in the hominid fossil record pertinent to the question and to associated readings in the core literature related to it. Demonstration labs will allow familiarity with critical fossil specimens. And discussion sessions will encourage integration of the reading material with that presented in lecture and lab.
Recommended preparation
Successful completion of BIO A 388-389 or graduate standing in Biocultural Anthropology.
Class assignments and grading
Reading of the course textbook and extensive readings in the primary literature of human paleontology.
Evaluation is based upon one 20 page, problem oriented, research paper and attendance and participation in the discussion sections.
