85525 - Biodiversity and Biocultural Dynamics of Human Population

Learning outcomes

This course provides the basic knowledge and methodologies of analysis about biodiversity and dynamics of human settlement through a biological, ecological and biocultural approach. At the end of the course the student will acquire appropriate skills for a correct understanding of biocultural and biogeographic history of human populations and also factors and meaning of their biological and ethnic diversity, useful for a conscious approach in international relations and multicultural societies.

Course contents

1. Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective

2. Human diversity: biological and not biological causes

3. An introduction to genetics: genetics, geography and human variation

4. Human biological variability: mechanisms that create and pattern this variability.

5. Human adaptability, the geographical distribution of diversity, migrations and admixture

6. The role of Climate, diet and pathogens : biocultural approaches to health and diet

7. Co-evolution between nature and culture in human evolution

8. Races and Inter-Mixing, Nationalities, Cultures, Castes, Classes and Religions

Readings/Bibliography

 

• Elise J. Sobo. Dynamics of Human Biocultural Diversity: A Unified Approach, 2013 Taylor and Francis, UK

 

Scientific papers will be suggested during the course

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

A written test with 10 questions (multiple-choice and open questions).  Each answer has a value up to 3 scores and in the case of complete answers, the student will achieve the full mark cum Laude.

Teaching tools

Slides and PC 

Office hours

See the website of Donata Luiselli