Biologic Anthropology

- Identify and assess the nature and differential biological bases of the human species. Ability to analyze from a critical perspective the biological patterns of the human species as a consequence of the evolutionary process.
- Identify the stages of the hominization process. Evaluate the morphological and functional variability and its meaning in the ergonomic and human adaptability fields.
- Analyze and interpret the genetic-molecular variability of current human populations and transfer this knowdlege into various fields of practical application.
- Develop the methods and promote the critical assessment in the student on the understanding of the problem of human biological variability, in its spatial and temporal dimensions, as well as its practical consequences.

THEORY (34 h)
- Taxonomic framing of the human species within the Primate Order (2 h)
- Evolutionary trends in the Hominization process (9 h)
- Paleoanthropology. The fossil record. Stages of hominization. Evolutionary trends, adaptability and diversification. Phylogenetic interpretations. Origin of modern humans (6 h)
- Molecular Anthropology (7 h)
- Somatology and Human Adaptability (5 h)
- Interpretation of the diversity of human populations. The main human groups. Origin, dynamics and diversification (5 h)

PRACTICES (12 hours. 6 sessions /2 h).

- Descriptive evaluation of the cranium.
- Craniometry of neurocranium and splanchnocranium. Metric study of the jaw. Height determination.
- Age and sex estimates. Cranial capacity determination.
- Analysis of dermal papillary lines.
- Blood groups phenotyping.
- Forensic and populational applications of the analysis of the genetic diversity.

SEMINARS (6 hours. 3 sessions x 2 h)

- Diversity of primates. Evolutionary aspects.
- Anatomical bases of hominid locomotion.
- Geographical diversity of human populations.

TUTORIES (1 h)
Review and clarification of doubts, or other teaching aspects raised by students.

Basic bibliography

- Jurmain, R., Kilgore, L., Trevathan, W. and Ciochon, R.L., 2018. Introduction to Physical Anthropology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth-Cengage Learning.
- Stanford, C., Allen, J.S., Anton S.C., 2017 (4th Ed.). Biological anthropology : the natural history of humankind. Pearson, Boston.
- Valls, A., 1985. Introducción a la antropología: fundamentos de la evolución y de la variabilidad biológica del hombre. 2ª ed. Barcelona: Labor.
- S. Stinson, B. Bogin, D. O'Rourke. 2012. Human Biology: An Evolutionary And Biocultural Perspective, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.*
- Cela Conde, C. J. Y Ayala, F. J. 2014. Evolución Humana. Alianza Editorial.*
- D. H. O'Rourke. 2019. A Companion To Anthropological Genetics. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.*


Complementary bibliography

- Conroy G.C., Pontzer H., 2012 (3rd Ed). Reconstructing modern origins. A modern synthesis. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
- Lewin, R., 2005. Human Evolution: An Illustrated Introduction. 5th ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
- Speicher, M.R. Motulsky, A.G. and Antonarakis, S.E. eds., 2010. Vogel and Motulsky’s Human genetics: Problems and Approaches. 4th completely rev. ed. Berlin: Springer.
- F. H. Smith And J. C. M. Ahern. 2013. The Origins Of Modern Humans: Biology Reconsidered. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.*

* References available in electronic format for USC students and PDI.

- Knowledge/contents: Con01, Con03, Con04, Con06, Con08, Con09, Con10
- Skills/skills: H/D01, H/D02, H/D03, H/D04, H/D05, H/D07, H/D08, H/D09, H/D10, H/D11, H/D13
- Competencies: Com01, Comp02, Comp04, Comp05

Knowledge/content
• Con01: Know the most important concepts, methods and results of the different branches of Biology
• Con03: Know the origin of life, the mechanisms of inheritance and its evolution
• Con04: Know the diversity of living beings and biological cycles, as well as develop the ability to analyze and interpret their adaptations to the environment
• Con06: Understand the principles of bioenergetics and biosignaling, and know the main metabolic pathways and their regulation, as well as the flow of genetic and biochemical information in living beings
• Con08: Know and understand the development, morphology and anatomy of living beings
• Con09: Understand and integrate the functioning and regulation of the main physiological processes of living beings, as well as their interaction with the biotic and abiotic environment.
• Con10: Know and understand the structure and dynamics of populations and communities

Skills/skills
• H/D01: Apply in an integrated manner the theoretical-practical knowledge acquired in the transmission of information/ideas and in the formulation and resolution of problems, both in academic and professional contexts.
• H/D02: Know how to obtain and interpret relevant information and experimental results and obtain conclusions on topics related to Biology
• H/D03: Study and learn autonomously, with organization of time and resources, new knowledge and techniques in Biology
• H/D04: Propose, apply and interpret mathematical models and statistical methods in the field of Biology
• H/D05: Develop the ability to obtain, handle, conserve, identify and classify biological specimens, as well as their remains and traces
• H/D07: Ability to search, process, analyze and synthesize information from various sources, including the use of ICTs in the field of Biology
• H/D08: Capacity for reasoning, argumentation and critical thinking
• H/D09: Ability to organize and plan work
• H/D10: Ability to work in a group and address problematic situations collectively
• H/D11: Ability to prepare and present an organized and understandable text, adequately reflecting the sources of information used
• H/D13: Maintain an ethical commitment, as well as a commitment to equality and integration.

Competencies
• Comp01: That students have demonstrated that they possess, understand and use knowledge of the different areas of Biology, including some cutting-edge aspects of their field of study.
• Comp02: That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy
• Comp04: Know and know how to apply instrumental techniques, and design work protocols in the laboratory and in the field, applying the appropriate regulations and techniques related to safety, hygiene, waste management, quality and sustainable development
• Comp05: That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature.

- Exhibition classes (non-mandatory): 3 hours of weekly master classes.
- Tutoring (non-mandatory): Clarification of the doubts raised by the students.
- Interactive classes (mandatory): Five laboratory practices (10 h), and one practice with computers (2 h).
- Seminars: In-depth study of certain issues. 3 sessions of 2 hours each.

Practices.- Two evaluation modalities that will count as 15% of the final rating:

(a) Continuous evaluation: Active participation, by attendance (mandatory non-evaluable), followed by the preparation and delivery of a final report (mandatory and evaluable). Attendance control: Appointment of each of the students listed in the group that makes up the practice. Compliance: Maximum a lack of assistance with supporting accreditation.

Or

(b) Exam of the practices developed during the course for those students with circumstances that avoid or make it very difficult to benefit from the previous evaluation modality (a).

Repeaters who have passed practices in previous courses will be assigned the grade previously obtained.

Theory.-
1) Conducting questionnaires (mandatory and evaluable) of continuous evaluation (15%) on the Virtual Campus.
2) Final written examination (mandatory and evaluable) of the subject taught in the course (70%), complementary to the continuous evaluation. The contents of the theory are developed in two main parts. The overall note of the final review is established, in principle, by the weighted average for both parts. However, in order to reach 50% of the maximum score it is necessary to obtain at least 35% of the maximum possible rating of each part.

To pass the subject, the student will be required to reach at least 50% of the maximum score in each of the 3 evaluable sections (practices, questionnaires and final exam).

On the second opportunity and for the repeating students the evaluation criteria will be modified only in the elimination of the questionnaires. In this case the weight of the score of the Practice Memory will be 30%.

The positive evaluation achieved by either side (Theory/Practice) will be kept for four academic courses.

In the final exam the following competences learning outcomes will be evaluated: Con01, Con03, Con04, Con06, Con08, Con09, Con10, Comp01, Comp02, Comp05, H/D01, H/D03, H/D04, H/D07, H/D08, H/D09, H/D11.
In the realization of the practices and the report of practices the following learning outcomes will be evaluated: Con1, Con03, Con04, Con08, Con10, H/D01, H/D02, H/D03, H/D04, H/D05, H/D07, H/D08, H/D09, H/D10, H/D11, H/D13, Comp01, Comp02, Comp04, Comp05.

Face-to-face hours:
- Theoretical: 34 hours
- Practices: 12 hours
- Seminars: 6 hours
- Tutoring: 1 hour
- Exam: 2 hours

Non-face-to-face hours: 95 total hours (82 hours of study and 13 h elaboration practices report)
Total workload: 150 hours

- Continuous attendance and monitoring of teaching.
- Bibliographic support oriented to the preparation and study of the subject.
- Tutoring as a support system to clarify or deepen individually in those aspects that the student needs to settle.

Throughout the course direct communication channels will be established with students (forums and Moodle messaging, virtual tutorials with MS-Teams and USC email...) especially through an operational Virtual Classroom of the subject on the Moodle platform , available to students from the first moment.

For cases of fraudulent conduct of exercises or tests, what is included in the Student Academic Performance Assessment and Grade Review Regulations shall apply.

The distribution by different means (for example, on web pages, distribution to people outside the course, etc.) without the consent of the teaching staff, of any teaching material available in the virtual classroom is also strictly prohibited.