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Accreditata MUR con D.M. 02/12/2005
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Scienze Motorie, pratica e gestione delle attività sportive, classe L-22

Anthropology

Informazioni

Anno accademico: 2021/2022

Periodo: I YEAR; II SEMESTER

SSD: BIO/08

Crediti: 12 CFU

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Biologist. PhD in evolutionary biology and ecology from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Specialist in physical anthropology and population genetics. She has worked as an anthropologist in archaeological excavations, collaborating with universities and
cultural heritage authorities, and has taught in schools and as part of educational tutorials during university courses. She has worked as a geneticist at universities and molecular biology companies in Italy and abroad. She was co-organiser and invited lecturer of an international course on anthropology and population genetics held at the
University of La Molina in Lima, Peru. During her research activity, she has also supervised several undergraduate and postgraduate theses and has been a reviewer for several peer-reviewed scientific journals and international grants. Currently she is a researcher at the University of Rome Tor Vergata for several projects, genetics and human evolution.

TABLE AND DEFINITION OF CONTENTS
The course in physical anthropology is divided into 4 modules and will cover the following contents:

Module 1 (3 CFU): Introduction to physical anthropology

Notions of general biology; genetic bases and environmental factors of biodiversity; evolutionary theories; history of
anthropological studies; man and his characterisation in relation to anthropomorphism.

Module 2 (3 CFU): The human body and its evolutionary history

The anatomo-functional transformations of the body during the phases of evolution, in relation to climatic and environmental changes; the achievement of bipedalism; processes of cerebralisation and anthropogenesis; appearance and spread of Homo sapiens.

Module 3 (3 CFU): Anthropometry and Morphology

Main anthropometric characters and variations in human populations. Main diagnostic criteria of sex, age, anthropological characters and diseases in human remains. Reconstruction of anthropological and demographic characteristics, lifestyles and living and health conditions of past human communities.

Module 4 (3 CFU): Variability in human groups

The inheritance of biological traits; genotype and phenotype; monogenic, polygenic and multifactorial inheritance; qualitative and quantitative traits; continuously varying traits and discrete traits; genetic polymorphisms and genetic variability in human populations. The adaptive significance of human variability: genetic, physiological and cultural adaptation. The biological diversity of human groups and the relationships with living environments.

Objective of the course

The course in Anthropology aims to the acquisition of theoretical knowledge on the natural history of Man, dealing with the themes of its origin, biological evolution and its relation to the cultural evolution, the biological variability and the mechanisms of adaptation to the environment by observing the diversity of the current and past human groups. At the end of the course, the student will acquire adequate knowledge of the methods of analysis of human biodiversity and its biological and adaptive significance. Contents of the course The course will provide notions of general biology and will deal with the genetic bases and environmental factors of biodiversity and the main theories of human evolution. During the lessons the students will learn contents about the anatomical-functional transformations of the body in the phases of evolution, in relation to climate and environmental changes; the achievement of bipedalism; the main anthropometric characters and variations in human populations; polymorphisms in the human DNA and the genetic variability in human populations; the adaptive significance of human variability.

The course in Anthropology aims to foster the acquisition of theoretical knowledge about the natural history of Man, covering the topics of his origin, biological evolution in relation to cultural evolution, biological variability and the mechanisms of adaptation to the environment with reference to the diversity of present and past human groups. At the end of the course, the student will acquire adequate knowledge of the methods of analysis of human biodiversity and its biological and adaptive significance.

A. Knowledge and understanding

To know evolutionary theory and its relation to the study of human anthropology, understanding the main mechanisms of evolution and adaptation.
To know the transformations of the human body in the course of evolution and the anthropometric and genetic variations of different human groups.

B. Applied knowledge and understanding

Ability to use understanding and knowledge of human biodiversity and its methods of analysis for current applications (e.g. ergonomics).

C. Autonomy of judgement

To acquire autonomy of judgement with reference to the evaluation and interpretation of scientific data on human variability from a morphological and genetic point of view.

D. Communication skills

To acquire appropriate skills and tools for the dissemination of the information acquired on biology and anthropology topics, verified during examinations and the conduct of in itinere tests.

E. Learning ability

To acquire appropriate skills for the development and in-depth analysis of further competences with reference to consultation of bibliographic material, consultation of databases and websites.

EXPECTED RESULTS

A. Use of advanced teaching materials and textbooks, knowledge of some cutting-edge topics within the subject studied. Scientific and methodological in-depth study of the topics covered.

B. Professional approach to work and possession of adequate skills to devise arguments, support them and solve problems within the subject studied. Ability to sustain a critical and reasoned analysis of the topics covered.

C. Ability to collect and interpret data useful for making autonomous judgements. Ability to make interdisciplinary correlations.

D. Ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialists and non-specialists.
Ability to acquire the specialist language of the subject studied and high quality speaking skills.

E. Ability to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.

DIDACTICS PROVISION

⮚ 24 video lessons;
⮚ 2 synchronous video lessons;
⮚ podcasts of all the video lessons mentioned above.

INTERACTIVE DIDACTICS

⮚ 1 orientation forum;
⮚ 1 in-depth thematic forum (1 for each module);
⮚ 6 structured e-activities (as described in the section “in itinere profit assessment methods”);
⮚ 2 synchronous interactive meetings with students (e.g. question time, student reception, review of individual assignments, etc.). )

 

SELF-LEARNING
Teaching materials are provided for each module: in-depth thematic studies, articles and slides by the lecturer, open access readings, online resources, reference bibliography, etc.

⮚ B. CHIARELLI, Dalla Natura alla Cultura – Principi di Antropologia biologica e culturale, Piccin, Padova, 2003-2004.

⮚ L.CAPASSO, Trattato di Antropologia, SEU ed., 2015

Access to the final examination is subject to the completion of all the e-activities communicated during the course by the lecturer and disciplinary tutor.

The assessment of learning will take place through an oral interview on the course contents (at least three). The grade (min 18, max 30 with possible honours) is determined by the level of performance for each of the following dimensions of oral interview: mastery of contents, appropriateness of definitions and theoretical references, clarity of argument, command of specialist language. Oral interview in presence.