Biological Anthropology and Anatomy (BAA)

Associate Professor Churchill, Chair; Assistant Research Professor Digby, Director of Undergraduate Studies; Professors Cartmill, Glander, Kay, Myers (orthopedics), Smith (biology), Terborgh (NSEES), and Yoder (biology); Associate Professors Alberts (biology), Major (radiology and surgery), Roth (biology), and Schmitt; Assistant Professors Drea and Taylor (physical therapy); Professors Emeriti Hylander and Simons; Associate Research Professor Wall; Adjunct Professors Larsen and van Schaik; Adjunct Associate Professor Williams; Adjunct Assistant Professors Anderson, Berger, Brockman and Rasmussen; Adjunct Research Scientist Pope; Laboratory Research Analyst Johnson; Research Scientist Struhsaker; Research Associates Ankel-Simons, Madden, van Nievelt, and Zumwalt; Lecturing Fellow Chatrath; Adjunct Museum Scientist Brink

Biological anthropology and anatomy is an interdisciplinary department centering on the origin and evolution of human beings and their close biological relatives. The department and its course offerings have three general focuses: primate behavior and ecology, primate paleontology, and functional and comparative anatomy. Significant opportunities for independent research are found at the Duke Lemur Center, which houses a unique and diverse range of nonhuman primates, especially prosimians from Madagascar. Advanced students can study original fossils and casts at the division of fossil primates (Duke Lemur Center) and in the department's laboratories in the Medical Center, which also afford opportunities to study comparative anatomy from an adaptive and evolutionary perspective. Students interested in the Primatology Program should be aware that Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93D is a program requirement. For further information on the Primatology Program contact the program chair at the department.

40. Next of Kin: Understanding the Great Apes. NS, STS Survey of ape (gibbons, orangutans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas) morphology, ecology and behavior. Topics include evolutionary history, locomotion, social interactions, mating systems, reproduction, parental care, infanticide, medicinal use of plants, cooperative hunting, alliances, warfare, conflict resolution, and cross-species measures of intelligence. Intended for non-majors. Instructor: Digby or staff. One course.

41. Sex, Lies and Evolution: An Introduction to the Primates. NS, STS Primate biology and behavior: evolution, anatomy, ecology, reproduction, communication, biomedicine,conservation. Diversity and flexibility of primate social systems; development of primate science from species perspective; impact of observer's cultural bias. Naturalistic and experimental studies of free-ranging and captive primates. Not open to students who have taken Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 40. Intended for non-majors. Instructor: Staff. One course.

45. How We Once Did Things. NS, STS The body-machine interface in human history and prehistory. How biological factors have determined the use of tools and weapons, designed clothing, shelters, and water-craft, domesticated animals and arranged farms and cities. Intended for nonmajors and majors. Instructors: Churchill and Vogel. One course.

93. Introduction to Biological Anthropology. NS, STS Human behavior and anatomy from an evolutionary perspective. The historical development of pre-Darwinian evolutionary thinking; Darwin's contribution to evolutionary theory; Mendel's work on genetics; modern synthesis framing the study of human origins and behavior in the context of modern evolutionary biology; primate behavior and evolution; a survey of human paleontology and human biology (emphasizing variation and adaptation); the origins of human social organization and culture. Instructor: Staff. One course.

93D. Introduction to Biological Anthropology. NS, STS Same as Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 except instruction is provided in lectures and one small laboratory meeting each week. Instructor: Staff. One course.

101L. Quaternary Prehistory of Southern Africa. NS, R A combined laboratory and lecture course covering the extant fauna and flora of southern Africa, Quaternary fauna and flora (focusing on the Cornelian and Florisian Land Mammal Ages), paleoenvironmental reconstruction, MSA archeology, dating methods applicable to the Quaternary, and Quaternary geology. Taught in South Africa (summer program) with guest lectures by South African archeologists, palynologists, and geologists. Labs emphasizing work with recent and fossil faunal material and with Middle Stone Age artifacts. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93. Instructor: Berger, Brink, or Churchill. One course.

102L. Paleoanthropological Field Methods. NS, R A hands-on program of instruction covering methods of maintaining archeological provenance (grid systems, stratigraphic reconstruction, point provenancing techniques, and field recording), use of mapping technology (infrared theodolite and global positioning systems, with an overview of geographic information systems), working with topographic maps and aerial photos, recording of geological profiles, recovery and preparation of fossils, and basic identification of animal fossils and stone tools. Taught in the field in South Africa during the summer. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93. Instructor: Berger, Brink, or Churchill. One course.

111. Dance Science: An Evolutionary Approach to Functional Anatomy. ALP, NS, R Human skeletal and muscular anatomy taught from an evolutionary perspective. Focus on anatomy relevant to dancers and other performing artists. Taught in both studio and laboratory settings. Students participate in original research on posture and movement. Consent of instructor required. Instructors: Williams and Schmitt. One course. C-L: Dance 111

120. Food For Thought: The Biology of Nutrition. NS, R, STS Food as medicine and medicine as food. The medicinal and dangerous properties of fruits, herbs, vegetables, and fungi. How human cultures impact diet (for example, eating disorders/addictive behaviors); how modern technology and non-invasive data collection techniques currently allow for studies of eating patterns, nutrition, ties between diet and society in terms of historical and evolutionary perspectives. Instructor: Glander. One course.

132. Human Evolution. NS Evolutionary biology of the hominidae. Anatomical and behavioral adaptations and phylogeny of fossils and living primates including Homo sapiens. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or equivalent. Instructor: Churchill or staff. One course.

132S. Human Evolution Seminar. NS, W A writing-intensive seminar version of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 132. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or equivalent. Instructor: Churchill or staff. One course.

133L. The Human Body. NS Human gross anatomy seen from a functional and evolutionary perspective. Laboratory involving study of prosected cadavers and other anatomical preparations. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93. Instructor: Cartmill, Wall, or staff. One course.

134L. Anthropology of the Skeleton. NS An introduction to the basics of human osteological analysis. Identification and siding of all the bones of the human body and the major osteological landmarks on each bone; basics of bone histology, development and growth; and fundamentals of anthropological analysis of human skeletal remains (archeological treatment of burials; determination of gender, populational affinities, stature; paleopathological analysis; medicolegal applications). Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or Biology 25L. Instructor: Churchill or Staff. One course.

135. Human Functional Anatomy. NS Basics of functional morphology (including elementary biomechanics), an overview of connective tissue structure and mechanics, and a systematic overview (from head to toe) of human anatomy from a functional perspective. Emphasis on connective and other tissues involved in functioning of the musculoskeletal system (primarily bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscle). Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 and 133L or 134L. Instructor: Churchill. One course.

136. Human Biology. NS An introduction to human biology from an evolutionary perspective. Focus on biological variability and its genetic and ecological underpinnings, with an emphasis on modern human variation and adaptation. Principles of heredity, development, evolution, adaptation, population growth and regulation, and epidemics; examples from various human populations. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or Biology 25L. Instructor: Churchill. One course.

137. Ecology and Adaptation of Hunters and Gatherers. CCI, NS The ecology of extant and extinct foraging societies; focus on human behavioral solutions to subsistence problems associated with different environments (tropical/neotropical forest, boreal forest, coastal, arctic, grassland/savannah, desert). Topics include edible resource distribution in varied environments and its relationship to mobility and subsistence strategies in modern hunter-gatherers; and the archeological and fossil evidence for the evolution of human subsistence behavior. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or Biology 25L. Instructor: Churchill. One course.

143. Primate Ecology. NS, R The study of ecology using primates as examples. Primate biogeography; biomes, dietary specializations, use of space; plant-animal interactions, community ecology; the concept of the niche and methods used in ecology. The basics of human ecology and the role of ecology in conservation. Includes occasional labs. Instructor: Digby or staff. One course.

144L. Primate Field Biology. NS, R, W Survey of field methods used to document primate behavior. Laboratory includes observations of free-ranging primates at the Duke Primate Center. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or Biology 25L. Instructor: Digby. One course.

146. Sociobiology. NS, STS Sociobiological theory reviewed and applied to the social behavior of nonhuman primates, hominids, and humans. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93. Instructor: Digby. One course.

146S. Sociobiology Seminar. NS, STS Sociobiological theory reviewed and applied to the social behavior of nonhuman primates, hominids, and humans. A writing-intensive seminar version of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 146. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93. Instructor: Staff. One course.

147. Bodies of Evidence: Introduction to Forensic Anthropology. NS, STS An introduction to medicolegal anthropology and death investigation. Topics include crime scene protocol and body recovery, basics of osteology, determining time since death, making personal identification, determining the manner and mode of death, postmortem modification of skeletal remains, protocols for mass disasters, human rights applications, and courtroom testimony. Not open to students who have had Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 47. Instructor: Churchill. One course.

151. Anatomy of the Lower Extremities. NS Introduction to the functional anatomy of the lower extremities. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Levin. One course.

171. Primate Sexuality. NS, STS A comparative and integrative study of primate sex and reproduction. The material is presented in three sections: the first focuses on primate social organization, mating systems, and reproductive strategies; the second focuses on the endocrine system and behavioral endocrinology, and; the third focuses on sexual differentiation of morphology, brain and behavior. In each section, this course places human sexuality within the broader context of the primate order. Prerequisites: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93(D) or Biology 25L. Instructor: Drea. One course. C-L: Biology 171

172L. Primate Anatomy. NS, W The comparative anatomy of primates from the perspective of adaptation and phylogeny. Laboratory includes some dissection or prosection of human and nonhuman primates. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93. Instructor: Staff. One course.

173L. The Primate Skeleton. NS, R The osteology of modern and fossil primates. Focus on skeletal anatomy relevant to primate evolution. Primate systematics, the anatomy of bone, the primate fossil record, and the comparative method. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93. Instructor: Staff. One course.

180L. Current Issues in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy. NS Same as Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 180 except in laboratory format. Instructor: Staff. One course.

183S. Primate Social Complexity and the Evolution of Intelligence. NS, R Social life of primates, with a focus on cognitive implications of social complexity. Primary emphasis on how social organization and social behavior influence the acquisition, expression, and transmission of information or knowledge. Topics include: tool use and causality; discrimination and insight learning; social influences on learning (for example, facilitation, inhibition, observation, imitation); knowledge of the social domain (individual recognition, kinship, hierarchies); coalitions, alliances, cooperation, and reciprocity; social conflict and reconciliation; traditions and cultural transmission; vocal and gestural communication; tactical deception and social manipulation; visual monitoring; intentionality; and instruction. Instructor: Drea. One course.

184S. Primate Conservation. EI, NS, STS Concepts, practice, and ethics of conservation biology, both at the species and community level. Relevant aspects of biogeography, ecology, behavior and demography; human impact (deforestation, hunting); conservation strategies/policies (objectives, design of protected area networks, impact on local human populations). Impact of cultural, political, ethical considerations on primate conservation. Instructor: Staff. One course.

192. Independent Study. Directed reading, tutorial, or individual project (often including library research and detailed analysis) in a field of special interest, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in a substantive paper or other approved product. Open only to qualified students, who, before being given permission to register, must submit to the faculty advisor a written proposal outlining the area of study and listing the goals and meeting schedule. Consent of instructor and director of undergraduate studies required. Instructor: Staff. One course.

193. Research Independent Study. R Individual research in a field of special interest, under the supervision of a faculty member, resulting in a substantive paper or written report containing significant analysis and interpretation of a previously approved topic. Open to qualified students, who, before being given permission to register, must submit to the faculty advisor a written proposal outlining the area of study and listing the goals and meeting schedule. Consent of instructor and director of undergraduate studies required. Instructor: Staff. One course.

195S. Senior Seminar. Prerequisites: BAA 93, a 100-level course in biological anthropology and anatomy, and consent of director of undergraduate studies. Instructor: Staff. One course.

196S. Senior Seminar. Prerequisites: BAA 93, a 100-level course in biological anthropology and anatomy, and consent of director of undergraduate studies. Instructor: Staff. One course.

234L. Advanced Human Osteology. NS, R 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. One course.

238S. Functional and Evolutionary Morphology of Primates. NS History and functional significance of locomotor and feeding adaptations, craniofacial morphology, sense organs, and reproductive systems in primates, including Homo sapiens. Prerequisite: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 172L and consent of instructor. Instructors: Cartmill, Kay, Williams, or staff. One course.

239L. Radioloy and Pathophysiology of Sports-Related Injuries. NS, W 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. One course.

240S. Hominid Socioecology. NS, R 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. One course.

243S. Comparative Primate Ecology. NS, R Advanced readings and discussion of current papers and monographs in primate ecology with special emphasis on comparative studies. Prerequisites: Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93, Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 143 recommended. Instructor: Glander or staff. One course.

244L. Methods in Primate Field Ecology. NS, R 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. One course.

245S. Primate Social Evolution. NS, R 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. One course.

246. The Primate Fossil Record. NS 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. One course.

247. The Hominid Fossil Record. NS 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. One course.

248S. Evolution of Mammals. NS The origin, adaptive radiation, and phylogenetic relationships of mammals, as inferred from the fossil record. Consent of instructor required. Instructor: Staff. One course.

249S. Microevolution and Sociobiology. NS 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. One course.

250S. Biometry. NS, QS, R 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. One course.

289L. Comparative Mammalian Anatomy. NS 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. One course.

293S. Advanced Research in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy. NS, R 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. One course. C-L: Primatology 286S

Major Requirements. Nine courses are required, not including the above prerequisites and corequisites. Eight courses must be 100-level or above, of which two must be 200-level. One course is required in each of the following areas: 1) human/primate paleontology or anatomy and 2) primate behavior and/or ecology (see listings in the Handbook for Majors). At least five courses must be taken in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy; four additional courses may be taken in related departments (e.g., Biology, Cultural Anthropology, Environmental and Ocean Sciences, Psychology, and Statistics) with the approval of an advisor. One course must be a lab/field experience (research independent study or Primatology internship may count toward this requirement when appropriate).

Major Requirements. Eight courses numbered 100 or above are required (not including the above prerequisites and corequisites), of which two must be at the 200-level. They must be distributed in the following manner: one course is required in each of the following: 1) human/primate paleontology or anatomy and 2) primate behavior and/or ecology (see listings in the Handbook for Majors); five courses must be in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy; up to three courses may be taken in related departments (e.g., Biology, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Psychology or Statistics) with the approval of advisor. One course must be a lab/field experience (research independent study or Primatology internship may count toward this requirement when appropriate). At least one course must involve statistics or quantitative methods (Statistics 100-level or Psychology 117, or equivalent).

To qualify for the graduation with distinction program, students must have a G.P.A. of 3.0 overall and 3.5 within Biological Anthropology and Anatomy. To earn distinction, students typically spend one year conducting independent research with a faculty mentor and writing a substantial senior thesis. Students must submit a brief (one- to two-paragraph) description of the honors project, the names of the faculty comprising the examination committee, and the signature of the student's faculty mentor to the director of undergraduate studies secretary by the end of the first week of classes of the student's next-to-last semester (e.g., fall semester for May graduates). The examination committee should consist of three faculty members, at least two of whom are in the department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy.

Students working towards a Certificate in Primatology whose G.P.A.'s qualify them for graduation with distinction may receive both. In order to do so, the research project completed during Primatology 186S and Primatology 187S must be presented to the student's committee. Students pursuing both a Certificate in Primatology and graduation with distinction are advised to work closely with their honors committee during the design and implementation of their certificate research.

Requirements. Biological Anthropology and Anatomy 93 or 93D; one course in primate/human paleontology and/or anatomy; one course in primate behavior and/or ecology; two elective courses numbered 100 or above in Biological Anthropology and Anatomy. Approved courses for each of the above subfields are listed in the Handbook for Majors.

Undergraduate Instruction 2007-2008

Biological Anthropology and Anatomy (BAA)

Undergraduate Instruction
2007-2008