Unit information: Evolution in Action in 2022/23

Unit name	Evolution in Action
Unit code	ARCH10014
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Kit Opie
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Unit Information

Biological Anthropology - one of the sub-disciplines of anthropology - is a wide and varied field of knowledge and research activities. It is unified by a scientific approach developed in evolutionary biology and a focus on humans and our relatives. The aim of this course is to introduce you to anthropological dimensions of evolutionary theory and thinking. At first, we will examine the theory of natural selection, including a basic review of the genetics, to explore modern human diversity. Then will identify biological and behavioural variation among our living relatives, primates and our antecedents. The remainder of the unit will focus on modern human's dynamic relationship with the environment in lectures on human ecology and adaptation.

The weekly lectures will be complemented by five seminars that will allow students to deepen their understanding of the topics through group work and problem-solving tasks on which students will receive formative feedback to help them prepare for the essay and exam.

Aims:

• To provide you with an overview of the field of biological anthropology, including the fundamental principles of natural selection, genetics, and ecology and their role in human evolution.

• To enable you to assess the importance of an evolutionary perspective to human biology and behaviour and our perception of what it means to be human.

• To understand the relevance of both adaptation and adaptability in explaining modern human diversity.

Your learning on this unit

At the end of this unit a successful student will be able to:

1. Explain Darwin’s theory of natural selection and his contribution to modern evolutionary thinking
2. Understand the principles of simple Mendelian inheritance and describe the role of Mendel and others in the Modern Synthesis.
3. Discuss, with examples, the role of both adaptive and non-adaptive factors in explaining human genetic diversity.
4. Describe the term primate.
5. Summarise the key stages in the pattern of human evolution, as they are currently understood.
6. Compare and contrast the arguments in the ‘nature versus nurture’ debate
7. Describe human adaptations to climatic variation
8. Discuss the dynamic relationship between disease, culture and the physical environment.

How you will learn

Weekly lectures. Biweekly 1-hour seminars, supported by self-directed activities. These will include group work and problem-solving tasks on which students receive formative feedback.

How you will be assessed

One formative 750 word essay (0% required for credit). ILOs 3, 5-8

One summative timed assessment (100%). ILOs 1,2,4.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ARCH10014).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.