Overview
This chapter introduces the various ways bioanthropology looks at modern human populations—the product of human evolution. I use my own work on dermatoglyphics among the Hutterites as an example of the study of evolution within an actual human group, also describing some of the new, high-tech genetic methods. Then, again briefly, I cover the basic demographic data of interest to anthropologists in describing the populations they study.Adaptations—often covered in chapters on "race"—are examined here, partly because they obviously fit the topic of the chapter, and partly to remove them from the race discussion so that, by the time they are brought up under the topic of biodiversity, they are understood in a more objective, scientific way. The topic of disease and human evolution—of increasing interest and importance—is introduced, looking at possible relationships in the past as well as the current situation of emerging diseases such as AIDS, other viruses, and the prion protein disorders. The evolutionary perspective is stressed throughout this discussion. Finally, the bioanthropology of the individual is discussed and the new field of life history studies is introduced.