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| This is a science group satisfying course that examines key issues in human growth and development, focusing particular attention on human physical growth. In this course, human growth and development is viewed as a biocultural process that demands an integrated analysis. This course uses a scientific approach, drawing on the methods, theories, and bodies of knowledge from various scientific disciplines, including evolutionary biology, genetics, neuroscience, physiology, nutritional sciences, and medicine. This course has three main sections: Section 1 builds the framework for understanding human growth and development. This section begins by providing an historical overview of growth studies, focusing particular attention on developments during the 20th century. This is followed by discussions of the scientific method and evolutionary theory, with particular attention directed towards the adaptation concept and life history theory. This comparative evolutionary perspective on human growth incorporates studies of living primates and fossil human ancestors. Section 2 focuses on the basic principles of human growth and development, from conception through adulthood. For each life stage, the major shifts in anatomy, physiology, and brain development are discussed. This section also covers techniques for assessing human growth status and the application of the knowledge of patterns of growth and development to bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Section 3 focuses on variation in human growth and development. Beyond simply describing differences in growth and development within and between groups, this course uses a biocultural framework that incorporates genetic, social, and ecological factors to explain why these patterns of variation exist. This section spends considerable time on illustrating how specific dietary factors, disease exposure, and parenting practices can shape variation in growth and development. |
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