“Human Evolution” is an optative subject that can be studied in the 3rd and 4th years of the Degree in Biology at the Faculty of Science and Technology in the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). 6 ECTS credits.



Although there is no administrative prerequisites to enroll in this subject, it is recommended that the student has passed the subject of “Physical Anthropology” (3rd year of the Degree in Biology).



In the Degree in Biology this subject is part of the Biodiversity and Evolution speciality, so it is advisable to also enroll in other optative subjects of this speciality. It is also recommended the enrollment in “Anthropogenetics” (26814), which delves into the variability of our species.



Although this subject is of interest to all students of the Degree in Biology, it is especially important for those students interested in the fields of Evolution and adaptation (what makes us human), and Biomedicine.

Specific skills:



1. Order, schematize and critically memorize the information related to the primate's fossil record in order to understand the evolution of this taxon.



2. Order, outline and critically analyze the information related to the hominid fossil record in order to understand the phylogenetic relationships between the various species.



3. Critically analyze scientific information in the field of Human Evolution that appears in the media and in popular science magazines in order to discuss their contents in the classroom.



4. Analyze and interpret the biological and behavioral diversity of primates in order to identify the different taxa and infer conclusions about the behavior of hominids.

Theoretical program:

I. THE PLACE OF HUMANS IN NATURE: ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF PRIMATES



1.- Description and classification of living primates.

Defining features of the order Primates. Classification of primates: Strepsirrhini / Haplorrhini. Biogeography and intragroup variability of Primates.



2.- The fossil record of the first Primates: Paleocene and Eocene.

The first radiation of the Primates. The Plesiadapiforms or archaic primates. Taxonomy and phylogenetic position: Adapiforms and Omomiforms. Characteristics, distribution and phylogenetic implications.



3.- Evolution of the Simiiforms.

Taxonomy of the Fayum Primates. Morphology and characteristics of some Simiiform remains from the African Oligocene. Fossil record and origin of the Primates of the New World.



4.- Diversity of Miocene hominoids.

The evolution of the Hominoidea superfamily. Biomolecular and fossil record data. Hominoid fossils of the Miocene and its morpho-functional interpretation for the phylogenetic reconstruction of human evolution.



5.- The origin of the hominins.

Plio-Pleistocene hominins. The origin of the genus Homo. Origin of anatomically modern humans. Genetic variability of modern humans.



6.- Comparative genomics of primates: what makes us human.

Human and primate genomes. Genomic diversity and evolutionary history of primates. Genomic intraspecies variability. Biomedical relevance of primate genomes: intraspecific differences in variants associated with diseases. Reconstruction of the origin of modern humans in the genomic era.



II. ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY AND BEHAVIOR OF LIVING PRIMATES



7.- Ecology and conservation of Primates.

Living primates diet. Body size and diet. Dental and digestive adaptations. Activities in the life of primates: daily and seasonal cycles. Territoriality. Predation. Conservation of primates.



8.- Mating systems in Primates.

Evolution of reproductive strategies. Reproductive strategies in females. Sociability: dominance, hierarchies and social structures. Sexual selection and reproductive strategies in males. Sexual selection and behavior.



9.- The evolution of social behavior.

Types of social interactions. Altruistic behavior in primates. Selective behaviors between relatives: sharing food, "grooming" and alliances. Reciprocal altruism.



10.- The intelligence of the Primates.

Definition of intelligence. Evolution of intelligence in primates: explanatory hypotheses. Intelligence in non-human primates.



III. HUMAN ADAPTABILITY: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE



11.- Types of adaptation: physiological, genetic and cultural.

The human ecosystem and its determinants. Concept and levels of adaptability: cultural or technological, morphophysiological and genetical. Adaptive response to the natural environment: altitude and temperature. Variability of the pigmentation as a protective factor from solar radiation.



12.- Ecology of Nutrition.

Diet and human evolution. Modernization and obesity: the metabolic syndrome. Food and genetic diversity: lactose and gluten intolerance.



13.- Human growth and development.

The evolution of human growth. Environmental and genetic factors that influence growth. Secular changes in human populations: stature and menarche.



14.- Biology of aging.

Senescence and aging. The bases and mechanisms of senescence. Aging indicators: physiological, osteological and anthropometric changes. Characteristics of human longevity.



15.- The evolution of human health and disease.

The concepts of health and disease. Its incidence throughout history and in different human ecosystems. The infectious diseases and their influence on the evolution of populations. Tropical endemics: malaria and trypanosomiasis. Paleopathology. The new diseases of the XXIth century.





Practical classes program



1) Phylogeny of the order Primates.



2) Identification of molds of living and fossil primates.



3) Assessment of nutritional status (body composition).



4) Visit to Sierra de Atapuerca sites and the Museum of Human Evolution (Burgos).

In this subject, teaching will be through master classes where the theoretical concepts will be explained. Students will discuss hypotheses and theories about the evolutionary adaptations of the human lineage.



In the laboratory and classroom practicals, students will be able to approach in a practical way and working as a team, the study of the peculiarities of current and fossil primates, and the evolution and adaptation to nutrition.



There will be a study trip which will include a guided visit to the Atapuerca site and the Museum of Human Evolution (Burgos).

• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 60
  • Multiple-Choice Test (%): 30
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 10

No partial examination will be performed.



You will need to get at least 4 (out of 10) on the written exam (Written assay to develop + Test type exam) in order to be computed for the final note.



Not sitting for the final examination will receive a mark of not presented.



In the UPV/EHU, it is utterly forbidden to the students the use of books, notes or any type of electronic devices, including smart phones or any type of mobile phones during the course of the exam (simple electronic calculators can nevertheless be used). In case of plagiarism or any type of dishonest or fraudulent behaviour both in the exam, essays, reports or assignments, the protocol on academic ethics and prevention of dishonest or fraudulent practices will be applied.

The extraordinary call will consist of a written exam of the theoretical contents (assay to be developed [60%] + multiple-choice tests [30%]) (90%).



Regarding the laboratory practicals (10%), the grades obtained will be saved, if it is the student's will. Otherwise, practicals will be evaluated in the written exam.



Not sitting for the final examination will receive a mark of not presented.



In the UPV/EHU, it is utterly forbidden to the students the use of books, notes or any type of electronic devices, including smart phones or any type of mobile phones during the course of the exam (simple electronic calculators can nevertheles be used). In case of plagiarism or any type of dishonest or fraudulent behaviour both in the exam, essays, reports or assignments, the protocol on academic ethics and prevention of dishonest or fraudulent practices will be applied.

Students will be provided (eGela) with diagrams, summaries and figures that facilitate the efficient follow-up of the master classes.

Likewise, a PROTOCOL for THE LAB PRACTICALS will be handed out where the objectives, the technical development, as well as the questions those students should answer during practice or later are defined.

All this information will be available in the eGela of the subject in advance.

Basic bibliography

Reference books

BOYD R, SILK JB (2020). How Humans Evolved. W.W. Norton & Company, New York.

FLEAGLE JG (1999). Primate adaptation and evolution. Second Edition. Academic Press, San Diego.

LEWIN R (1998). Principles of human evolution: a core textbook. Blackwell Science, Oxford.

RELETHFORD JH (2003).The human species: an introduction to biological anthropology. Mayfield, Mountain View, California.

ROWE N (1996). The pictorial guide to the living primates. Pogonias, East Hampton, N.Y.

STEIN P, ROWE B, PIERSON B (2020). Physical Anthropology. McGraw Hill Education, New York.

STRINGER C, ANDREWS P (2005). La evolución humana. Akal, Thames &Hudson, Londres.

WALKER PL, HAGEN EH (2000). Human evolution (CD): a multimedia guide to the fossil record. University of California.



Interesting books

ARSUAGA JL (1999). El collar del Neandertal: en busca de los primeros pensadores. Temas de Hoy; Madrid.

ARSUAGA JL (2002). Los aborígenes. La alimentación en la evolución humana. RBA; Barcelona.

ARSUAGA JL, MARTÍNEZ I (1998). La especie elegida: la larga marcha de la evolución humana. Temas de Hoy; Madrid.

ELDREDGE N, TATTERSALL I (1986). Los mitos de la evolución humana. Fondo de Cultura Económica, México.

GOULD SJ (1983). Desde Darwin. Reflexiones sobre historia natural. Ed. Blume, Madrid

GOULD SJ (1994). El pulgar del panda: reflexiones sobre historia natural y evolución. Drakontos, Crítica, Barcelona.

LEAKEY R (1996). El origen de la humanidad. Debate, Madrid.

LEAKEY R, LEWIN R (1994). Nuestros orígenes: en busca de lo que nos hace humanos. Crítica, Barcelona.

MARTINÓN-TORRES M (2022). Homo imperfectus. Ediciones Destino, Barcelona.

STRINGER C, MCKIE R (1996). African Exodus. Jonathan Cape, London.

In-depth bibliography

S. Jones, R. Martin, D. Pilbeam (Ed) (1992). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution. Cambridge University Press.

Cameron N (2002). Human Growth and Development. Academia Press.

JK McKee, FE Poirier, WS McGraw (2005). Understanding Human Evolution. Prentice Hall.

Crews DE (2003). Human Senescence: evolutionary and cultural perspectives. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Hohmann G, Robbins M, Boesch C (eds.) (2006). Feeding ecology in Apes and other Primates. Ecological, Physiological and Behavioural aspects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Lerner RM (1984/2009 the digitally printed version). On the nature of Human plasticity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Stinson S, Bogin B, Huss-Ashmore R, O’Rourke D (eds.) (2000). Human Biology: an evolutionary and biocultural perspective. Wiley-Liss, Inc., New York.

Robert L. & Fulop T. (eds.) (2014). Aging: Facts and Theories. Karger, Basel (Switzerland).

Hermanussen M. (ed.) (2013). Auxology (Studying Human Growth and Development). Schweizerbart Science publishers, Germany.

Journals

American Journal of Human Biology
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Annals of Human Biology
Evolutionary Anthropology
Human Biology
Internacional Journal of Primatology
Journal of Human Evolution

Web addresses

A Taxonomy of Extinct Primates
(http://members.tripod.com/cacajao/taxonomy_primata.html)

Public Broadcasting Service: Origins of Humankind (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/humans/humankind/j.html)

The Talk Origins Archive: Hominid Species
(http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/species.html)

Atapuerca
(http://www.ucm.es/paleo/ata/portada.htm)

Primate Fact Sheets
(http://www.theprimata.com/factsheets.html)

Animal Diversity Web: Primates
(http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Primates.html)

Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
(http://www.venganza.org/)

Euskal Natura: Antropologia Biologikoa
(http://www.euskalnatura.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=298&Itemid=341)