Teaching
Biological Anthropology
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Unit 2
Nonhuman Primate Diversity
As members of the Primate order, modern humans share more genetic material with monkeys, lemurs, and apes than with other mammals. In this unit, students will learn about the diversity among nonhuman primates and what research has revealed about primate behavior, communication, and other social interactions.
Sapiens articles
Keywords
View All in Environment
![A large moose stands in the shallow waters of a lake at sunset, with the water reflecting vibrant golden and orange hues.]()
![A gnarled tree stands on a reddish cliff, beyond which stretches a landscape of deeply hued sandstone plateaus that an ox-bowed river cuts through.]()
![A whale’s tail appears above the water, creating white foam as it splashes on the ocean’s surface. A small bird flies in the background.]()
![A large metal sign with the letters S.O.S. carved through it stands in a shallow lake in front of a blue sky with pink clouds.]()
![People wearing brown and tan coats shop in front of a woman in a pink outfit beneath a neon blue sign that reads SHEIN (pronounced “she-in”).]()
![A person wearing a snorkel, wetsuit, and flippers floats underwater as sunlight streams into the ocean. In the background, another diver swims near the surface.]()
Do Moose “Belong” in Colorado?
As moose populations multiply in the Southern Rocky Mountains, decision-makers are questioning whether the animals are endemic or invaders. Archaeology can offer answers—and potential solutions.
Gathering Firewood—and Redefining Land Stewardship—at Bears Ears
At Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, a new co-management plan brings together federal agencies and a consortium of Native American tribes—revealing deep tensions over land rights and demands for environmental justice.
Protecting Ancestral Waters Through Collaborative Stewardship
The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, along California’s Central Coast, would be the first of its kind in the U.S. to be nominated by Native peoples.
Can Art Save the “Post-Apocalyptic” Salton Sea?
In this Mad Max–like California landscape, artists and activists are inventing renewable alternatives to the capitalist system that’s developing but also destroying the region.
Can “Made in China” Become a Beacon of Sustainability?
In the epicenter of fast fashion, a small cohort of Chinese eco-friendly designers is amplifying the call for a less wasteful and environmentally destructive clothing culture.
A Freediver Finds Belonging Without Breath
An anthropologist takes us on a journey “down the line” to explore what freediving can teach us about ourselves and kinship with the sea.
View All in Evolution
![An ape-like mannequin, with protruding facial features and a body covered in fur, stands in a museum exhibition under dramatic lighting. Next to it, a text panel starts, “The human story begins.”]()
![A bearded man in a vest and red scarf holds up his two hands in loose blue gloves, with a small tooth in each hand.]()
![A historic black-and-white photograph shows a small group of workers on the floor of a pin manufacturing plant tending to rows of machines.]()
![A person with short gray hair wearing a blue shirt holds a black camera up to their face and points it at a figure that looks like a hairy unclothed person with one hand on their lap and the other on its chin.]()
![In a dark and rainy forest, a large Tyrannosaurus rex stares into a green car with its headlights on. The car has a yellow and black graphic on its hood with text that reads, “Jurassic Park.”]()
![On a paved city street fenced off and lined with people, three people wearing colorful clothing stand and hold signs. These read: “Monogamy is not for everyone,” “I love my girlfriend’s boyfriend,” and “Sharing is Caring.”]()
Lessons From Lucy
Fifty years ago, the remains of an Australopithecus afarensis ancestor, named “Lucy” by archaeologists, rewrote the story of human evolution.
Unraveling a “Ghost” Neanderthal Lineage
Remains in France found by archaeologists and geneticists suggest at least two lineages—not just one—of late Neanderthals in Europe.
How Allocating Work Aided Our Evolutionary Success
Societies divide labor by gender and age. A biological anthropologist considers when and why this behavior arose.
What’s Behind the Evolution of Neanderthal Portraits
Since the 1800s, Neanderthal depictions have evolved not only with changing science but also due to social views. An archaeologist explains why visualizations of our evolutionary cousins matter.
Celebrity Status Almost Ruined Ancient DNA Research
An evolutionary anthropologist draws lessons from paleogenetic’s journey from Jurassic Park fiction to Nobel Prize reality.
What Is “Natural” for Human Sexual Relationships?
A biological and anthropological researcher explains how humans' diverse ways of mating might have evolved.
Professor Talking Points
- Modern humans are members of the order Primates and share a large amount of DNA with others in this order, which includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, and apes.
- Primates are distinguished by particular physical and behavioral traits: for example, forward-facing eyes, excellent vision, a post-orbital bar, dexterous hands, collarbones, five fingers on the hands and feet, small litters, and larger brains compared to other animals of similar sizes.
- As Homo sapiens, our closest living relatives are chimpanzees and bonobos.
- Studies on primate behavior show us what we have in common with other species in our order and where we differ in genetics, anatomy, and behavior.
Academic Articles
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Di Fiore, Anthony. 2003. “Molecular Genetic Approaches to the Study of Primate Behavior, Social Organization, and Reproduction.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 122 (37): 62–99.
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Reed, Kaye E., and Laura R. Bidner. 2004. “Primate Communities: Past, Present, and Possible Future.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology 39: 2–39.
Student Discussion Questions
- What is the role of the environment in primate diversity?
- How does competition with non-primate animals impact primate behavior?
- What have you learned about kinship relationships in primate groups? Are there factors that might be more important than social relationships in determining how certain species, such as chimpanzees, interact with one another?
- What do the readings say about the nature of primate communication?
- Discuss what you have learned about sharing and cooperation among the primate groups you have read about.
Activities
- Have students watch Jane Goodall’s TED Talk “What Separates Us From Chimpanzees?” and write a one-page response.
- See various activities: Introduction to Primates.
Additional Resources
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Documentary: National Geographic’s Jane
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TEDx Talk: Frans de Waal’s “Moral Behavior in Animals”
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Video: Nova’s “First Primates”
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Website: Early Primate Evolution
Unit By
Eshe Lewis (2020)
Teaching
Biological Anthropology
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Unit 3
Early Homo Sapiens
