Biological Anthropology
Biological Anthropology
What is researched within Biological Anthropology? Biological Anthropology studies the behaviours and biological variations of human beings, other primates, and extinct hominin ancestors. This subfield of anthropology provides us with a biological perspective on the variation of humans as a whole.
What are some Biological Anthropology Research Methods? Since it is such a broad sub-discipline, the research methods tend to vary. Some biological anthropologists rely on the study of old bones and fossil records for their discoveries. They use the information gathered from the fossils to compare the variations of the past to the current primates and humans on earth. Others steer away from the study of fossils and focus more on the non-human primates, and study their behaviours, morphology and genetics. And finally, another common research method in biological anthropology is the study of behavioural adaptations from more of an evolutionary perspective. (Jaiswal, 1)
What are some specializations within Biological Anthropology? There are a total of thirteen major divisions in biological/physical anthropology:
1. Primatology – the study of primates as a whole, determining their various development stages and life patterns to truly understand the position of humankind.
2. Ethnology – the study of human diversity.
3. Human Biology – determines how humans are highly influenced by culture and shows our functional variations through time.
4. Paleoanthropology – functions in documenting the biological history of mankind.
5. Human Genetic – studies the genetics involved in the inheritance of human character.
6. Medical Anthropology – studies the patterns of diseases and their nature and impact on society.
7. Physiological Anthropology – study of the skeletal structure and internal organs of the human body to determine their bio-chemical constitution.
8. Forensic Anthropology – uses bone fragments to solve
What is researched within Biological Anthropology? Biological Anthropology studies the behaviours and biological variations of human beings, other primates, and extinct hominin ancestors. This subfield of anthropology provides us with a biological perspective on the variation of humans as a whole.
What are some Biological Anthropology Research Methods? Since it is such a broad sub-discipline, the research methods tend to vary. Some biological anthropologists rely on the study of old bones and fossil records for their discoveries. They use the information gathered from the fossils to compare the variations of the past to the current primates and humans on earth. Others steer away from the study of fossils and focus more on the non-human primates, and study their behaviours, morphology and genetics. And finally, another common research method in biological anthropology is the study of behavioural adaptations from more of an evolutionary perspective. (Jaiswal, 1)
What are some specializations within Biological Anthropology? There are a total of thirteen major divisions in biological/physical anthropology:
1. Primatology – the study of primates as a whole, determining their various development stages and life patterns to truly understand the position of humankind.
2. Ethnology – the study of human diversity.
3. Human Biology – determines how humans are highly influenced by culture and shows our functional variations through time.
4. Paleoanthropology – functions in documenting the biological history of mankind.
5. Human Genetic – studies the genetics involved in the inheritance of human character.
6. Medical Anthropology – studies the patterns of diseases and their nature and impact on society.
7. Physiological Anthropology – study of the skeletal structure and internal organs of the human body to determine their bio-chemical constitution.
8. Forensic Anthropology – uses bone fragments to solve