| biological anthropology | A subfield of anthropology that studies humans as a biocultural species.
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| bioanthropology | Another name for biological anthropology.
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| physical anthropology | The traditional name for biological anthropology.
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| anthropology | "The holistic study of the human species. Anthropology includes the study of human biology, human physical evolution, human cultural evolution, and human adaptation."
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| species | "A group of organisms that can produce fertile offspring among themselves but not with members of other groups. A closed genetic population, usually physically distinguishable from other populations."
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| holistic | Assuming an interrelationship among the parts of a subject. Anthropology is a holistic discipline.
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| culture | "Ideas and behaviors that are learned and shared. Also, the system made up of the sum total of these ideas and behaviors that is unique to a particular society of people. Nonbiological means of adaptation."
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| biocultural | Focusing on the interaction of biology and culture.
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| cultural anthropology | A subfield of anthropology that focuses on human cultural behavior and cultural systems and the variation in cultural expression among human groups.
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| archaeology | A subfield of anthropology that studies the human cultural past and the reconstruction of past cultural systems.
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| paleoanthropology | A specialty that studies the human fossil record.
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| osteology | "The study of the structure, function, and evolution of the skeleton."
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| primates | "Large-brained, mostly tree-dwelling mammals with three-dimensional color vision and grasping hands. Humans are primates."
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| primatology | A specialty of anthropology that studies nonhuman primates.
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| human ecology | A specialty of anthropology that studies the relationships between humans and their environments.
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| applied anthropology | Anthropology used to address current practical problems and concerns.
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| forensic anthropologist | A scientist who applies anthropology to legal matters. Usually used with reference to the identification of skeletal remains and the assessment of time and cause of death.
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| hunter-gatherers | "Societies that rely on naturally occurring sources of food. They have no domestic plants or animals except, perhaps, dogs."
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| science | "The method of inquiry that requires the generation, testing, and acceptance or rejection of hypotheses."
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| scientific method | The process of conducting scientific inquiry.
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| hypotheses | "Educated guesses to explain natural phenomena. In the scientific method, hypotheses must be testable."
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| induction | Developing a general explanation from specific observations. The step in the scientific method that generates hypotheses.
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| deduction | "Suggesting specific data that would be found if a hypothesis were true, a step in the scientific method involving the testing of hypotheses."
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| theory | "A well-supported general idea that explains a large set of factual patterns. In science, theory is a positive term."
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| belief systems | "Ideas that are taken on faith and cannot be scientifically tested. Examples are religions, philosophies, and ethical and moral beliefs."
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