1. Biological Sciences
Humanities
Social Sciences
Anthropology

2. Major Fields of Anthropology
Biological
Cultural
Linguistic
Archaeology
Applied

3. Introduction to Biological Anthropology
The study of human biological adaptation, variation, and evolution

4. Genetics
The study of gene structure and action, and the patterns of inheritance of traits
Helps us to understand how variation occurs

5. Primatology Study of non-human primates
PRIMATES = large-brained mammals with 3-D color vision and grasping hands.
helps us to understand the anatomical and behavioral adaptations of early ancestors

6. Osteology
The study of the structure, function, and evolution of the skeleton
Anatomy tells us about behavior, interaction with environment

7. Forensic Anthropology
Analysis of skeletal remains for medical and legal purposes
Identification of remains from crime scenes
Time of death, age, sex, ancestry of skeleton
Helps reconstruct individuals and populations

8. The Scientific Method of Problem Solving
Begins with a question about the natural world.
Based on use of our senses, or instruments/tools that extend our senses to gather information about world.
Aim is to develop answers or improve explanations for observations or events in the natural world.

9. Basic steps of the scientific method
State the problem.
Gather information about the problem (research).
Form a hypothesis (an educated guess).
Test the hypothesis.
Draw conclusions.

10. The nature of scientific explanations
Based on empirical observations & experiments
Empirical = based on experience
Reliable but tentative and subject to modification
Explanations tested against observations & those that fail the test are rejected or modified
Subject to peer review & replication
Attempts to identify alternative explanations & to replicate observations & experiments
Limited (by tools, technology, information available at any given time)

11. THEORY
An explanation that makes sense of some aspect of nature, supported by evidence that has been tested or validated.
Can always be modified or replaced if new evidence warrants it.
Theories doe not “prove,” they merely EXPLAIN. (Because facts can always change)

12. FACT
Something that everyone can see, feel, hear, taste, observe and agree on.
Can be empirically validated.
Can change.

13. LAW or PRINCIPLE
A description of natural phenomena that generally does not vary
Example: Law of Gravity
Principles of Inheritance