ANTHROPOLOGY SERIES
Human Evolution: The Legacy of the Intelligent Biped
Professor Janet Monge
This course is co-sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, located at 33rd and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia.*
LECTURES BEGIN AT 6:30 PM
- Monday, October 15, 2007 - Our Primate Legacy
This class will explore our primate legacy going back 60 million years. After a brief overview of living primates, the manipulative hand and the beginnings of tool use will be explored. Topics will also include why we can and do eat anything, and how arboreal climbing led to upright trunks and the origin of bipedalism.
- Monday, October 22, 2007 - Brief Overview of Human Evolution I
This class will outline the 5 million year history of the human subfamily beginning with bipedal, microcephalic megadonts from the first 2 million years. It will also examine the migration out of Africa - from the tropics to the temperate zones.
- Monday, October 29, 2007 - Brief Overview of Human Evolution II
The origin of Homo sapiens sapiens and the Neanderthal problem will be discussed. This class will also consider the evidence for the African origins of modern humans and the evidence provided by mitochondrial DNA.
- Monday, November 5, 2007 - Medical Compromises
We will examine the tradeoffs in human evolution from the beginnings of bipedalism in small-brained, short-lived human ancestors to big-brained, long-lifed modern humans. The consequences of upright posture include spinal problems like herniation and spasms, as well as complications in childbirth.
- Monday, November 12, 2007 - The Legacy of the Wisdom Tooth
Early humans had big teeth and projecting jaws. Remains of these humans tell a great deal about the food that was consumed. This class will examine the development of the human face and teeth in relation to changes in food and diet sources - from scavenging to hunting/gathering (smaller faces/smaller teeth) to the tiny faces, jaws, and teeth of the late phases of human evolution.
- Monday, November 19, 2007 - Diet and Human Evolution
This lecture will investigate primate diets and analyze the diets of our ancestors. The origin of agriculture will be examined as it marked a major change in the diet of humans. The class will also look at the impact of preservatives, sugar, and low fiber, and explore what the diet of our ancestors tells us about a healthy diet today.
Register for this course at the first lecture. No preregistration required.
*The entrance for the course is at the east end of the building, next to the garage.
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