INTEGBI 38
The Animal In You: Evolutionary Traces In The Human Body
This course invites students to discover the animal within and explore the profound connections that link us humans to the broader tree of life. Through a multidisciplinary approach, we will examine the vestiges of our evolutionary past, from the structural features inherited from fish to the remnants of primate behaviors still visible in modern humans. Students will delve into comparative anatomy, genetics, and paleontology to uncover how over time evolution and major environmental changes has shaped the human form and function.
Topics
- Identify Evolutionary Ancestry: Describe key anatomical features in the human body that trace back to our evolutionary ancestors, including their function and revolutionary roles. Understand Evolutionary Variations: Compare and contrast human anatomy with that of other vertebrates, highlighting evolutionary similarities and differences that illustrate the diversity of organ systems and underlying genetic basis. Explore Evolutionary Processes: Gain a basic understanding of natural selection, genetic mechanism, and other evolutionary processes that have shaped human and other vertebrates over hundreds of millions of years. Analyze Deep Time Evolution Through Fossil Evidence: Interpret fossil evidence and use it to reconstruct the evolutionary history of anatomical traits, including vestigial structures. Investigate Animal and Environment Interactions: Investigate adaptations in the vertebrate body corresponding to (major) environmental changes, such as bipedalism, opposable thumbs, and complex brain development.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027