This is folivore food
This is folivore food My, what wimpy canines you had!
This is folivore food
Introduction to Biological Anthropology

 Anthropology 201.2 - Sonoma State University - Spring 2008
Tu-Th 5:25-6:40, Stev. 1002

 Taught by Dr. Bruce Owen

 Updated on May 9, 2008

 Some current students have offered to tutor. Email me if you are interested.
The last online homework, due May 13, will be posted Friday
Zoo Project is due Thursday, May 15
Zoo Project info and Primate Observation Forms are posted under Handouts

Click for assigned readings Click for virtual handouts Click for links to related web sites Click to email Bruce Owen

What's posted here?

  • Schedule of readings, assignments, and due dates: All the assigned readings for each class session are listed here, along with downloadable homework assignments, due dates, test dates, and so on. Each date shows the readings you should do before the class session on that date. Most readings are from the textbook, but the list also has links to online readings, maps, charts, lecture notes, and the Powerpoint slides you see in class. The lecture notes will usually be posted before the class session, while the slides will usually be posted after it. Some people print the the lecture notes before the class and bring them along to take notes on, rather than trying to write everything down. The notes are useful study aids and sources for written assignments, but they do not necessarily make sense on their own. They are no substitute for studying the assigned readings and attending class. The list of readings may change during the semester, so check it frequently.

    So why come to lectures?

    First, hearing me explain the notes and slides will be far clearer than trying to figure them out without help. Second, numerous studies show that you understand adn remember things better if you get the information in various different ways, like reading, hearing, and seeing. Third, you can ask questions, and listen as others ask questions that you might not have thought of. Finally, I fill in details, explain arguments, and highlight the important points, which should make it easier to see the big picture rather than getting lost in the details.

  • Handouts: Assignment information, the syllabus, study guides, and so on.

  • Links: Links to other web pages about subjects we cover. These are completely optional, but may help you study or pursue questions raised by the course. Many have good photos or maps that add a visual element to the readings. All are recommended, and many are fun.

  • Email: Click the "email" button to ask me a question or make a comment, or to turn in the computer version of an assignment. If you are not using your own computer, be sure to include your email address in the message so I can reply.

  • Everything on this site has been scanned for viruses and is safe to the best of my knowledge.

Readings, assignments, and due dates

Read the assignments before the class session. Scroll down to see more. The readings and class notes are in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format and should open in a new window. Move it aside or close it to see this one again. Most computers will open PDF files automatically to view, save, or print. If yours won't, download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader plugin for your browser.

Click to go to the free Adobe Acrobat Reader download page

"Slides" are the Powerpoint pictures and text you see in class. They do not include all the information in the notes. Recent browsers open these files automatically. Navigate with PageUp, PageDown, RightArrow, LeftArrow, Home, End, and the scroll bar. Close the window to quit. Some browsers may download the file. Double-click the file to open it with Powerpoint. If your computer does not have Powerpoint, download the free Powerpoint viewer for Windows or for Macintosh. Some files are large and may take many minutes to download. They may be impractical if you have a telephone modem.

Password: Due to copyright restrictions, many items require the class user ID and password. These are different from your Peoplesoft ID and password. If you can't recall them, email me.
Be patient: Some items may take many seconds or minutes to load, especially with a telephone modem.

  • Tuesday, Jan. 29: Introduction to the course

    • Notes (28 Kb)No Slides for this class
    • No reading

Part 1: Evolution

  • Thursday, Jan. 31: What evolution is and how Darwin explained it

    • Notes (49 Kb)Slides (985 Kb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Prologue pg. xx-xxiv (5 pgs)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 1, pg. 2-12 (11 pgs)

  • Tuesday, Feb. 5: Evolution in action

  • Thursday, Feb. 7: What are species and how do they arise?

    • Notes (56 Kb)Slides (1.0 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 4, pg. 83-91 (9 pgs)
    • Due: Homework 1: Evolution

  • Tuesday, Feb. 12: Darwin's big problem and Mendelian genetics

  • Thursday, Feb. 14: Beyond Mendel: molecular genetics

  • Tuesday, Feb. 19: Population genetics and the modern synthesis of evolutionary theory

    • Notes (58 Kb)Slides (757 Kb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 3, pg 51-66 (16 pgs)
    • Due: Homework 2: Speciation and Mendelian genetics

  • Thursday, Feb. 21: Phylogenies, or evolutionary family trees

  • Tuesday, Feb. 26: Catch-up, review, preparation for the test

    • No additional reading. Review and find issues you would like to clarify
    • Due: Homework 3: Molecular and Population genetics

  • Thursday, Feb. 28: Test 1: Evolution

Part 2: Living primates

  • Tuesday, Mar. 4: Why we study non-human primates, and an introduction to our relatives

  • Thursday, Mar. 6: Primate ecology: Food and territory

    • Notes (39 Kb)Slides (2.5 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 6 pg. 136-149 (14 pgs)
    • Due: Homework 4: Living primates

  • Tuesday, Mar. 11: Primate ecology: Predators and living in groups

    • Notes (32 Kb)Slides (1.8 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 6 pg. 149-162 (14 pgs)

  • Thursday, Mar. 13: Catchup on Primate ecology: Predators and living in groups

  • Tuesday, Mar. 18: Mating: Primate females

    • Notes (28 Kb)Slides (920 Kb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 7, pg. 164-176 (13 pgs)
    • Due: Homework 5: Primate food, territory, and groups

  • Thursday, Mar. 20: Mating: Primate males and sexual selection

    • Notes (50 Kb)Slides (1.9 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 7, pg. 177-194 (18 pgs)

  • Tuesday, Mar. 25: No class: Spring break

  • Thursday, Mar. 27: No class: Spring break

  • Tuesday, Apr. 1: Evolution of social behavior: Altruism and kin selection

  • Thursday, Apr. 3: Primate intelligence

    • Notes (43 Kb)Slides (1.2 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 9, pg. 218-238 (21 pgs)
    • Due: Homework 6: Sexual selection and altruism

  • Tuesday, Apr. 8: Test 2: Living primates

Part 3: Evolution of humans

  • Thursday, Apr. 10: Paleontology, the first primates, and the hominoids

    • Notes (46 Kb)Slides (2.6 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 10, pg. 242-267 (26 pgs)
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Primate Origins - The Earliest Primates, Theories of Primate Origins
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Prosimians and Anthropoids - Eocene Prosimians, Early Anthropoids
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Monkeys and Apes - all sections

  • Tuesday, Apr. 15: The first hominins

    • Notes (35 Kb)Slides (3.5 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 11, pg. 269-302 (34 pgs)
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Human Origins - all sections

  • Thursday, Apr. 17: More hominins

  • Tuesday, Apr. 22: Lifestyles of the toolmaking Oldowan hominins

    • Notes (39 Kb)Slides (962 Kb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 12, pg. 304-325 (22 pgs)
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Early Homo - Early Tools
    • Due: Homework 7: Fossil evidence through early hominins

  • Thursday, Apr. 24: Catch up: Lifestyles of the toolmaking Oldowan hominins

    • Online Homework 8: Click the link below, then click "Introduction to Biological Anthropology".
      For User ID, enter your Peoplesoft Username (your email address without "@sonoma.edu").
      For Password, enter your student ID number. Do not include any leading zeros.
      Click "login", click "Homework 8", click "Attempt quiz now", and then click "OK" to start.
      Take as long as you want. You can save your work without submitting the answers, then return later to finish. When you submit the quiz, you will immediately get your score.
      Answers may be submitted until the beginning of class on Tuesday, April 29.
      If you have any problems or questions, please email me.
      Online assignment: Homework 8: Hominins and toolmakers

  • Tuesday, Apr. 29: Genus Homo, but not quite us

    • Notes (47 Kb)Slides (2.2 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 13, pg. 327-348 (22 pgs)
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Early Homo - Overview, Large v. Small H. habilis, Brain Reorganization
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Homo erectus - all sections
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Archaic Homo sapiens - all sections
    • Due: Homework 8 must be submitted online by the beginning of class

  • Thursday, May 1: The Neanderthals

    • Notes (35 Kb)Slides (1.9 Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 13, pg. 348-360 (13 pgs)
    • Walker & Hagen CD: The Neanderthals - all sections

  • Tuesday, May 6: Catch up: The Neanderthals

    • No additional reading. Catch up on the Neanderthals, or get ahead on modern Homo sapiens

  • Thursday, May 8: Modern Homo sapiens

    • Notes (35 Kb)Slides - coming soon (nn Mb)
    • Boyd & Silk: Chapter 14, pg. 362-398 (37 pgs)
    • Walker & Hagen CD: Modern Homo sapiens - all sections
    • Online Homework 9: Neanderthals and Homo sapiens - coming soon
      Answers may be submitted until the beginning of class on Tuesday, May 13.

  • Tuesday, May 13: Modern genetic diversity in humans and the concept of race

  • Thursday, May 15: Catch-up, review, evaluations, preparation for the test

    • No additional reading. Review and find issues you would like to clarify
    • Due: Zoo project

Final exam week:

  • Tuesday, May 20: Test 3: Evolution of humans

    • 5:00-6:50, Stevenson 1002

Handout List

Scroll down if you don't see what you need. Click on the Handout that you want. If you have been here before, press your browser's "reload" button to see the latest additions.

Links to sites about evolution, primates, the fossil record, and more

Interesting, often illustrated, from easy to challenging... check these out. Many of these make excellent study aids for preparing for tests. Some may help with the Zoo Project. All are optional. If you have been here before, press your browser's "reload" button to see the latest additions.

  • Evolution is a fact and a theory. A clear and thorough little essay.

  • Observed instances of speciation. A review of numerous cases of observed evolutionary changes drastic enough to create new species. Begins with an in-depth discussion of the species concept. Most of the examples are plants or laboratory cases. The language is a bit technical.

  • Some more observed speciation events. A collection of observed cases of evolution occurring to the point of speciation in laboratory and natural settings. Some are briefly summarized, while others are just the references. Also a few short discussions by various authors.

  • Biology and Evolution Archive. Clear, concise discussions of evolutionary theory, real examples, responses to creationism, and more for anyone who wants to go beyond the textbook. Starts with an excellent "Introduction to Evolutionary Biology" in serious but readable language. Highly recommended.

  • The Origin of Species. The full text of Darwin's classic.

  • Self-correcting Punnett square quiz. A good, easy study aid to make sure you are getting it right. Links to brief explanations and examples. Uses "incomplete dominance" for what we are calling "codominance"; uses "hybrid" for what we are calling "heterozygous" (this is a historical echo of Mendel's method of hybridizing peas to make heterozygotes).

  • DNA Tutorial. A more detailed introduction to DNA and the processes of replication and protein synthesis. Concise, slightly technical explanations, nice illustrations and animations. It isn't as simple as our textbook makes it seem!

  • Videos about proteins, DNA, cell division, molecular machinery. Instructive and amazing.

  • Primate Gallery. Lots of great pictures; clicking "next" gives you more of the same or related species. Many have excellent "fact sheet" and other links below the picture. Learn to tell a langur from a lemur on sight.

  • Oakland Zoo web page. Hint: The very informative "Meet the animals now!" feature lists animals by the full common name (like White-handed gibbon, rather than Gibbon), so look closely or you might miss something interesting.

  • San Francisco Zoo web page. Hint: In the white area on the upper left, click on "See", then check out the menu of animals that appears below it.

  • Paleoanthropology: A short journey through time. Good survey of the fossil record of human origins, concise but authoritative, based on an excellent phylogenetic chart. A little different in some details from our textbook. Lacks the latest finds.

  • Summary of the hominid species. Excellent, concise, illustrated review of the fossil hominids, including very recent discoveries. Click the word "Fossils" next to the species names for well-explained features, debates, and photos.

  • Anthropology in the News. Links to the latest finds, discoveries, and controversies in biological anthro, cultural anthro, linguistics, and archaeology. Updated frequently.

Homo sapiens sapiens Introduction to Biological Anthropology by Bruce Owen
Copyright (c) 2008, Bruce Owen. All rights reserved.
Please send comments on content and presentation to bruce.owen@sonoma.edu.
URL of this document: http://bruceowen.com/introbiological/201-08s.htm
Revised: 9 May 2008