This chapter is the first of three (4–6) that deal with human biological variation in living populations. The current chapter provides an introduction to the study of human variation by describing the methods and models for analysis. The chapter begins with a brief survey of the different ways in which human variation can be measured. The chapter then discusses the “race” concept, and how it has been misused and how it is inappropriate for the study of human biological variation. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the evolutionary approach to the study of variation, including some specific methods used for examining biological variation in human populations.
1. You should be able to define the "biological species" concept and describe how new species arise. |
|
|
|
2. You should be able to discuss different models for macroevolutionary change and the nature and causes of extinction. |
|
|
|
3. You should be familiar with common misconceptions about natural selection, structure, function, and evolution, and know the scientific principles they misinterpret. |
|
|
|
4. You should know how the earth's history is divided by geologists and paleontologists into eons, eras, and periods. You should know the dates and characteristics of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras, and the important species developments in each era. |