HUMAN VARIATION
(revised 09JAN06)
ANT 295.01 – Spring 2006
V. Bentley-Condit [bentleyc]
Office Hrs: MWF 11a-3p
Goodnow 307
Phone: 4305
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
According to one of our texts, human evolutionary genetics “is the study of how one human genome
differs from another and the implications of this for our understanding of our species in the past and in
the present” (Jobling et al. 2004:1). In this course, we will explore the human fossil record, the basics
of genetics, and human genomic variation from an evolutionary perspective. We will cover the
fundamental concepts underlying anthropological human diversity studies and examine what
questions can and cannot be addressed from a genetic perspective. The course is roughly divided
into 4 “umbrella” topics: 1) background of evolutionary theory and the fossil record, 2) the basics of
genetics, 3) humans’ genetic origins and evolution, and 4) modern humans’ multifactorial traits and
the future of human genetics.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT:
1) Jobling, M.; Hurles, M.; Tyler-Smith, C. 2004. Human Evolutionary Genetics: Origins, Peoples &
Disease. (HEG) Garland Science, New York.
2) Richards, J.; Hawley, R.S. 2005. The Human Genome: A User’s Guide, 2nd ed. (GENOME)
Elsevier Science, Burlington, MA.
3) Blackboard Readings (BR) – Available on course blackboard site
4) A calculator of some sort – does not have to be “fancy”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
1) Exams – 4 @ 17.5% = 70% - There will be four in-class exams, each covering approximately ¼ of
the course.
2) Problem Sets – 6 @ 2.5% = 15% - Six problem-sets will be assigned throughout the semester the
re-emphasize and review the genetic and mathematical concepts of the readings. They will be
due in class, usually on Mondays, and will not be accepted late. They will be graded as √ -, √, √+
which equate roughly to a C, B, or an A.
3) Cat Lab Project – 1 @ 5% = 5% - There will be one slightly longer “lab” project early in the
semester that will require some data collection and a write-up.
Attendance and Participation – 10% - These are mandatory and I keep track of both. If you are not
planning on attending and participating in every class, you are wasting your time and mine.
WEEK/DATE
TOPIC(S)
ASSIGNMENT(S)
WK 1
M – 23JAN
Preliminaries
Find a reputable news source
online and see what aspects of
genetics are making current
headlines. Bring to class.
Evolutionary Theory
W – 25JAN
BR1: Goldsmith & Zimmerman,
Darwinian Evolution, The Modern Synthesis,
Ch 2: Charles Darwin… & Ch 5:
& Levels of Selection
After Darwin…
F – 27JAN
BR2: Goldsmith & Zimmerman,
Ch 6: Evolutionary Social…
Evolution Since Darwin
1
WK 2
M – 30JAN
The Fossil Record & Why Study HEG
Australopithecines & Early Homo
BR3: Boyd & Silk: Ch 11:The
Earliest Hominids
W – 01FEB
Homo erectus through archaic Homo sapiens
BR4: Boyd & Silk: Ch 13: The
Ancients
F – 03FEB
Modern Homo sapiens & Human Evolutionary
Genetics
BR5: Boyd & Silk: Ch 14: The
Moderns & HEG Ch 1
The Basics of Heredity
Genes & Mendel
GENOME Ch 1-3
W – 08FEB
Human Mendelian Genetics
GENOME Ch 4-5
F – 10FEB
Hardy-Weinberg and Further Complications
BR6: Goldsmith & Zimmerman:
Ch 4: Genetic continuity… and
reading on cat genetics at
http://www.messybeast.com/ret
ro-genetics.htm
WK 3
M – 06FEB
WK 4
M – 13FEB
W – 15FEB
F – 17FEB
WK 5
M – 20FEB
W – 22FEB
F – 24FEB
WK 6
M – 27FEB
W – 01MAR
DNA and Chromosomes
DNA , Proteins, & Splicing
PROBLEM SET 1 DUE
GENOME Ch 6-8
Chromosomes
GENOME Ch 9-10
How Chromosomes Move
GENOME Ch 11-12
Chromosomes & Heredity
PROBLEM SET 2 DUE
GENOME Ch 13; HEG Ch 2
(skim most, read section 2.7)
Catch-up and/or Review
N/A
EXAM 1
Mutations
Mutations and Their Detection
CAT LAB/PROBLEM DUE
GENOME Ch 14-15
Mutants vs. Normals
GENOME Ch 16-17
Muscular Dystrophy & Huntington
Genes, Chromosomes & Sex
X&Y
GENOME Ch 18-19
W – 08MAR
Gender
GENOME Ch 21
F – 10MAR
Down Syndrome & Imprinting
GENOME Ch 22 – 23
F – 03MAR
WK 7
M – 06MAR
2
PROBLEM SET 3 DUE
GENOME Ch 20
WK 8
M – 13MAR
How Tell If It is Genetic?
PROBLEM SET 4 DUE
GENOME: Ch 24
W – 15MAR
Catch-up and/or Review
N/A
F – 17MAR
18MAR – 02 APR
WK 9
M – 03APR
W – 05APR
F – 07APR
WK 10
M – 10APR
W – 12APR
F – 14APR
WK 11
M – 17APR
W – 19APR
F – 21APR
WK 12
M – 24APR
EXAM 2
SPRING BREAK AT LAST!!!!!
Humans’ Genetic Origins
HEG Ch 5 (Most of this chapter
Processes Shaping Diversity
is review; good refresher)
Humans as Apes
HEG Ch 7
Origins of Modern Humans
HEG Ch 8
The Distribution of Diversity
HEG Ch 9
Agriculture and Genetics
HEG 10
The New World
HEG 11
Admixture
HEG 12
Understanding Phenotypic Variation
HEG 13
Health Implications & Disease Distribution
HEG 14
EXAM 3
Modern Humans’ Multifactorial Traits
W – 26APR
Variable Expression, Cardiovascular
Disease, & IQ
GENOME Ch 29-31
Criminality and Cancer
Cloning & Genetic Testing
The Human Genome Project & Cloning
GENOME Ch 32-33
The Human Genome
GENOME Ch 27-28
Genetic Screening & Gene Therapy
GENOME Ch 34-35
Forensics & The Future
PROBLEM SET 6 DUE
HEG Ch 15; Genome Ch 37
W – 10MAY
Wrap-up and/or Review
N/A
F – 12MAY
EXAM 4
F – 28APR
WK 13
M – 01MAY
W – 03MAY
F – 05MAY
WK 14
M – 08MAY
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PROBLEM SET 5 DUE
GENOME Ch 25-26
BLACKBOARD READINGS BIBLIOGRAPHY
1) Goldsmith, T.; Zimmerman, W. 2001. Biology, Evolution, and Human Nature. New York: John
Wiley & Sons. CH 2, Charles Darwin and the Origins of Evolutionary Theory, pp. 21-51 and CH5,
After Darwin: Molecular Evolution, Selection, and Adaptation, pp. 105-124.
2) Goldsmith, T.; Zimmerman, W. 2001. Biology, Evolution, and Human Nature. New York: John
Wiley & Sons. CH 6, Evolutionary Social Theory, pp. 125-154.
3) Boyd, R.; Silk, J. 2000. How Humans Evolved, 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. CH
11, The Earliest Hominids, pp. 326-374.
4) Boyd, R.; Silk, J. 2000. How Humans Evolved, 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. CH
13, The Ancients, pp. 408-451.
5) Boyd, R.; Silk, J. 2000. How Humans Evolved, 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. CH
14, The Moderns, pp. 452-488.
6) Goldsmith, T.; Zimmerman, W. 2001. Biology, Evolution, and Human Nature. New York: John
Wiley & Sons. CH 4, Genetic Continuity and Change: Organisms, Environments, and
Microevolution. pp. 85-103.
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