Genes and Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Anthropology 297A
Fall 2011
Professors’ Information:
Professor: David Puts
Office: 218 Carpenter
Office Phone: 814-867-0453
Email: dap27@psu.edu
Office hours: By appointment
Professor: Mark Shriver
Office: 511 Carpenter
Office Phone: 814-863-1078
Email: mds17@psu.edu
Office hours: By appointment
Other Contacts:
__________________________________________________________
(name)
(phone #)
(Email)
__________________________________________________________
(name)
(phone #)
(Email)
Course Information:
Class Times and Location:
Lecture: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11:15-12:05 pm in 202 Carpenter.
Course Website:
Class readings can be found on the course ANGEL site. To log in to ANGEL, go
to https://cms.psu.edu/frames.aspx
Anthropology 297A, Genes in Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Fall 2011
Course Purpose and Goals:
Genes in Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution is a science course designed
to introduce you to the fields of human biology, genetics, evolution, and behavior.
The approach to the material will be both practical and personalized, as you will
be invited to assay your own DNA for particular genetic variants and to measure
some of the traits studied (e.g., facial features using 3d photos, skin color, and
personality traits) on yourself. During the course of the semester, we will consider
how various physical and behavioral traits such as facial appearance, voice,
bitter tasting ability, skin pigmentation, disease risks, and body odor are
determined by genes and are shaped by the forces of evolution. Numerous
hands-on experiments will be used to help you to visualize the sometimesabstract methods and concepts occurring on unfamiliar scales of time and size.
The course will be roughly half lecture and half practical.
One important personalized aspect of this course is the opportunity that you will
have to analyze your own DNA for a large set of genetic variants (SNP markers)
using a commercially available test (www.23andMe.com). You will be given a
discount code which will entitle you to a $99 23andMe complete genome test
with a one-year subscription (a $207 value). Both Shriver and Puts have been
tested using 23andMe and Shriver has used the test in two previous classes. In
this course you will have the opportunity to ask questions and to learn about your
genetic testing results firsthand and in a group setting with others who also are
being tested. Please note that you are not being required to buy the 23andMe
test to enroll in and succeed in this course. However, the professors would like to
emphasize that this course does provide a unique opportunity to explore one's
own genetics on a personal level. In the first week of the course, we will review
with you the types of results you might get from these tests and show examples
of results from a number of people's 23andMe accounts. Even if you choose not
to be tested, you will be expected to make a "guest" account on 23andMe so that
you can view the results of Shriver and Puts and have access to the rich
research resource that this test presents. Neither of your professors receives any
financial renumeration from, or has any financial interest in, 23andMe.
We will work toward several goals. By the end of the course, you should:
1) understand the main features of DNA, genomes, and genes
2) understand the main forces by which traits and the genes underlying them
evolve
3) understand how genetic variation can be associated with both rare
Mendelian traits and common traits that vary continuously
4) understand how genes influence behavior
Page 2
Anthropology 297A, Genes in Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Fall 2011
You and Your Classmates:
Your classmates will be diverse in their educational backgrounds. Take
advantage of this range of experience by getting to know your classmates, with
whom you can discuss ideas and form study groups. On the first page of this
syllabus are spaces for you to record information on contacting your classmates.
Introduce yourself to a couple of your neighbors in class and exchange
information. If you know you have to miss class, you can ask one of these people
to pick up handouts for you and let you see his or her notes.
Reading Materials:
Required reading:
Boyd, Robert and Silk, Joan B. (2008) How Humans Evolved 5th edition. W. W.
Norton & Company
Journal articles and book chapters provided free on ANGEL. Make sure you can
log on to the PSU ANGEL site and see the course.
Research resources and example profiles are available on 23andMe. You should
set up a "guest" account on 23andMe, which can later be linked to your test
results should you decide to be tested.
Recommended reading:
We will be happy to recommend additional reading material on any courserelated topic you wish to pursue.
Grading:
Your grade will be composed the following:
Attendance and participation………………........ 100 points
Lab reports………………………………………... 100 points
Exam 1……………………..……………………… 100 points
Exam 2……………………..……………………… 100 points
Exam 3……………………..……………………… 100 points
Exam 4……………………..……………………… 100 points
TOTAL:
600 points
Page 3
Anthropology 297A, Genes in Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Fall 2011
Attendance and participation: Your attendance and participation grade will be
based on you (1) showing up regularly and punctually to class, (2) contributing to
class discussion and activities, and (3) demonstrating that you have read and
thought about the material and activities. Each of these three criteria will be
weighted equally. Contributing to class discussion means asking good questions
and making contructive comments. A sign-up sheet will be circulated during each
class period, and it is your responsibility to find the sheet and sign it.
Lab Reports
This is a four credit class. There are three credit hours of lecture. The fourth
credit will be the equivalent of two hours of class work (the standard for a lab
credit at PSU) spent either outside lecture but in the lab or involved in an online
activity like searching a particular data base. If the lab is to be offered in either
Shriver’s or Puts’s lab space, you will be given a couple of options for where and
when to go for the activity. Generally, these labs will be accompanied by study
sheets with questions and/or links for online entry of some or all of your results.
Your experience with these labs should be recorded as concise (one page) lab
reports. Understand that these lab reports are for your benefit in learning the
material, as well as required in this course.
Exams
Your exams will consist of multiple choice, true/false, short problem and short
essay questions. We do not expect anyone to cheat on exams by concealing
notes or by looking at others’ work. We expect that you will be interested enough
in the material to want to learn it. However, if anyone is caught cheating during
an exam, the exam will be confiscated and a zero grade will be recorded.
Curve Policy. If the class mean is below 75%, the difference between the class
mean and 75% will be added to everyone’s score.
Final exam: Your final exam schedule can be found on eLion by approximately
the 5th week of the semester: https://elion.oas.psu.edu/ The “final” exam is not
cumulative and counts as much as the other three exams in this course.
Page 4
Anthropology 297A, Genes in Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Fall 2011
Late Work, Make-Ups, and Other Policies:
Exams, notes and lab reports:
Exam dates and notes and lab reports are inflexible. Please plan ahead. Excuses
will only be accepted under “legitimate, unavoidable” circumstances, as defined
by
the
University
Faculty
Senate
Policy,
Section
42-27
(http://senate.psu.edu/policies/42-00.html#42-27). Make-up exams are allowed
only for regularly scheduled, University-approved curricular and extracurricular
activities, or under “legitimate, unavoidable” circumstances, as defined by the
University Faculty Senate Policy, Section 42-27.
Special Considerations:
Note to students with disabilities: Penn State welcomes students with disabilities
into the University's educational programs. If you have a disability-related need
for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for
Disability Services. For further information regarding policies, rights and
responsibilities please visit the Office for Disability Services (ODS) Web site
at: www.equity.psu.edu/ods/. Instructors should be notified as early in
the semester as possible regarding the need for reasonable accommodations.
Academic Dishonesty:
All Penn State policies regarding ethics and honorable behavior apply to this
course. For any material or ideas obtained from other sources, such as the books
or things you see on the web, in the library, et cetera, a source reference must be
given. You must not plagiarize; that is, you must not appropriate the writing of
others and present it without attribution as your own. For more information on
plagiarism,
see
the
following
Liberal
Arts
web
site:
www.la.psu.edu/undergrad/integrity/avoidplagiarism.htm. If deemed necessary,
student material can be checked for plagiarism on www.turnitin.com.
Furthermore, all exam answers must be your own, and you must not provide any
assistance to other students in exams. Students violating these simple policies
will receive a failing course grade, and the issue will be pursued further under the
University’s regulations concerning academic integrity.
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Anthropology 297A, Genes in Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Fall 2011
Schedule of Topics and Readings:
WEEK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
DATE
UNIT
Aug 22
Aug 24
Aug 26
Aug 29
Aug 31
Sep 2
Sep 5
Sep 7
Sept 9
Sep 12
Sep 14
Sep 16
Sep 19
Sep 21
Sep 23
Sep 26
Sep 28
Sep 30
Oct 3
Oct 5
Oct 7
Oct 10
Oct 12
Oct 14
Oct 17
Oct 19
Oct 21
Oct 24
Oct 26
Oct 28
Oct 31
Nov 2
Nov 4
Nov 7
Nov 9
Nov 11
Nov 14
Nov 16
Nov 18
Nov 21
Nov 23
Nov 25
Nov 28
Nov 30
Dec 1
Dec 5
Dec 7
Dec 9
DNA, genes,
genomes,
and
variation
(Shriver)
Primate
Ecology and
Behavior
(Puts)
Genetics of
complex
traits
(Shriver)
Evolution of
human
behavior
(Puts)
LECTURE TOPIC
READING
This course. 23andMe.
Research ethics.
DNA, genes and the structure of the
genome
Genics, genetics and genomics
Types and uses of genetic markers
HWE and Genetic ancestry
Labor Day: NO Class on Monday
Four forces: Mutation and Drift
Four forces: Natural Selection
Four forces: Admixture
Genomic distribution of ariation
EXAM 1
Genetic basis of behavior
Primate diversity and ecology
Primate diversity and ecology
Primate mating systems
Primate mating systems
Primate mating systems
The evolution of cooperation
The evolution of cooperation
The evolution of cooperation
Primate life history & intelligence
Primate life history & intelligence
EXAM 2
Clasic Genetics: One locus
Clasic Genetics: Two loci
Linkage and Linkage Disequilibrium
Pedegrees and Mendelian Disease
Dominant and Rescessive Disease
Polygenic traits
Mapping traits in families
GWAS
Genetic risk factors
23andMe results
Evolution and genetic risk
EXAM 3
Evolution and human behavior
Evolution and human behavior
Evolution and human behavior
THANKSGIVING BREAK:
NO CLASSES
Syllabus
23andMe.comB&
B&S Ch.1
B&S Ch. 2
B&S Ch. 2
B&S Ch. 3
Shriver (1997)
Evolution and human behavior
Mating competition and parenting
Mating competition and parenting
Mating competition and parenting
Mating competition and parenting
Mating competition and parenting
Ch.13,15
Ch.16
Ch.16
Ch.16
Ch.16
Ch.16
Page 6
B&S Ch. 3
B&S Ch. 3
B&S Ch. 3
Shriver (2004)
B&S Pp.68-71
B&S Ch.5
B&S Ch.5
B&S Ch.6
B&S Ch.6
B&S Ch.6
B&S Ch.7
B&S Ch.7
B&S Ch.7
B&S Ch.8
B&S Ch.8
B&S Ch. 2
B&S Ch. 2
B&S Ch. 14
B&S Ch. 14
B&S Ch. 14
TBA
LAB TOPIC
23andMe
PCR
Populus
Behavior
coding
Cross-species
comparison
PTC tasting
and other
phenotyping
OMIM
Skin color
TBA
Facial features
Ch.13,15
Ch.13,15
Ch.13,15
Quantifying
the human
voice
Measuring
human
sexuality
Anthropology 297A, Genes in Human Biology, Behavior, and Evolution
Page 7
Fall 2011