Biological Anthropology and Anatomy (BAA)

Associate Professor Schmitt, Chair; Professor Glander, Director of Graduate Studies; Professors Cartmill, Churchill, Glander, Kay, Smith, Terborgh, Yoder; Associate Professors Drea, Roth and Wall; Assistant Professors Major and Taylor; Assistant Professor of the Practice Digby; Assistant Research Professor Wall; Professors Emeritus Hylander and Simons; Visiting Assistant Professors Linden, Kivell, and Marchi; Adjunct Professor van Schaik; Adjunct Assistant Professor Berger; Adjunct Associate Research Professor Williams; Adjunct Assistant Research Professor Brockman; Adjunct Senior Research Scientist Brink; Adjunct Research Scientists Anderson, Chatrath, Pope, Struhsaker

Admission to the PhD program in biological anthropology and anatomy is not contingent on any particular course of study at the undergraduate level. The goal of the graduate program is to provide students with a broad-based background in organismal biology with which to study the behavior, ecology, and evolution of primates. The three general areas of focus in the department are: (1) behavior, ecology, and genetics; (2) paleontology, systematics, and evolution; and (3) functional, comparative, and developmental morphology. Students are encouraged to define a course of study that crosses these areas of interest and that extends beyond the strict limits of primatology. Research opportunities include behavioral research at the Duke University Lemur Center; ecological and behavioral fieldwork in Africa, Central and South America, Asia, and Madagascar; paleontological fieldwork in Africa, South America, North America, and Madagascar; and laboratories in experimental functional morphology and comparative embryology.

Courses of study are tailored to meet individual needs, but all students will be expected to take gross human anatomy, a course in statistics and experimental design, and at least one course in each of the subfields of the department.

Students are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of at least one language other than English.

234L. Advanced Human Osteology. Advanced laboratory techniques for human osteological analysis; identification and siding of fragmented skeletal elements and teeth; differences between human and non-human bone; biomechanical analysis, functional morphology, hominin osteology; case studies of human skeletons used to produce written skeletal report. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

238S. Primate Adaptation. A study of primate adaptation from an evolutionary perspective. Topics vary according to student interests but may include history and functional significance of locomotor and feeding adaptations, craniofacial morphology, sense organs, reproductive systems, and language in primates, including humans. Seminar format but, depending on topic, may include laboratory analysis of materials. Prerequisite: 100-level anatomy or morphology course or consent of instructor. Instructor: Williams. 3 units.

239L. Radioloy and Pathophysiology of Sports-Related Injuries. Anatomy of joints, muscle, and bone in reference to commonly encountered sports injuries of the upper and lower extremities. Radiographic studies of sports-related injury. Case study format. Instructor: Major. 4 units.

240S. Hominid Socioecology. Analysis of how socioecological studies of human foragers and nonhuman primates can inform the interpretation of the hominid fossil/archaeological record. Summary of documented historical changes during hominid evolution, and identification of approaches required to develop testable reconstructions. Models for the evolution in hominids of bipedalism, ranging and foraging, hunting, food sharing, intersexual relationships and sexual division of labor, communication (including language), culture, technology, life history, parental care, and social organization, as well as their mutual relationships. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93(D) and 132. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

244L. Methods in Primate Field Ecology. Survey of field methods used in the study of primate ecology, including the habitat assessment, mapping, and behavioral observations using computer technology. Laboratory includes observations of primates at the Duke University Primate Center. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93; Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 143 recommended. Instructor: Glander or staff. 3 units.

245S. Primate Social Evolution. Ecological determinants of, and biological constraints on, social strategies and systems, with an emphasis on primates. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 and 143 or 144L or 146; or consent of instructor. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

246. The Primate Fossil Record. A survey of fossil primates including early humans. The diversity, anatomy, and behavior of primates as related to the origin and spread of past primates. The radiation of each main group of primates in the succession leading to humans illustrated with slides, casts, and fossils. Topics include geochemical dating, timing of molecular clocks, and various procedures for classifying primates. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or consent of instructor. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

247. The Hominid Fossil Record. Origin and successive stages of development of human ancestors. Detailed analysis of adaptive types and cultural developments. Personalities and current controversies in the study of hominid paleontology. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 and 132, or consent of instructor. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

249S. Microevolution and Sociobiology. The relationship between resource distribution, social structure, and rate and direction of evolutionary change, including speciation. Mating systems, dispersal patterns, and mechanisms of new social group formation examined from the perspective of their effects on the genetic structure of populations and species radiations. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or Biology 25L; Biology 120 recommended. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

250. Biometry. Advanced course in biological statistics. Principles of parametric and nonparametric statistics and their application to hypothesis testing in biological anthropology. Topics include study design, analysis of variance, regression, and allometry. Student analysis of comparative anatomical and behavioral field data resulting in a research paper. Prerequisites: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93; introductory statistics course. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Wall. 3 units.

289L. Comparative Mammalian Anatomy. A practical survey of anatomical diversity in mammals. An emphasis on dissections of a broad variety of mammals. A broader perspective on specific anatomical features provided in the lectures. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

293S. Advanced Research in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy. Advanced independent research in a seminar that provides instruction in proposal writing, hypothesis/prediction formulation, methods, data collection and analysis, literature review, and writing of formal research article. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Digby. 3 units.

301. Anatomy of the Limbs. The musculoskeletal anatomy of the limbs and limb girdles. Emphasis is on detailed dissection of the extremities, with a minor focus on clinical applications. Course primarily intended for advanced graduate students in physical therapy. Consent of instructor required. 1 to 3 units. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.

305. Gross Human Anatomy. Includes complete dissection of a cadaver; laboratory work is supplemented by conferences which emphasize biological and evolutionary aspects. Required of entering graduate students in anatomy; by arrangement, may extend into second semester. Prerequisites: adequate background in biology, including comparative anatomy and embryology and written consent of instructor. Instructor: Staff. 3 units.

312. Research. Individual investigations in the various fields of biological anthropology and anatomy. Consent of instructor required. Credit to be arranged; maximum 6 units. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.

340. Tutorial in Advanced Anatomy. Topics for intensive reading and discussion will be chosen according to the student's interests, related to basic problems in function of bone and muscle systems, development and differentiation, comparative anatomy at the gross and histological level and vertebrate evolution. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.

354. Research in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy. A preceptorial course in various research methods in biological anthropology and anatomy. Consent of instructor required. Credit to be arranged. Instructor: Staff. Variable credit.

2008-09 Bulletin of the Duke University Graduate School

2008-09 Bulletin of the
Duke University Graduate School