This class reviews the development of modern evolutionary theory so that we can understand the natural history of humans and our closest relatives, the non-human primates. We survey modern primate diversity focusing on adaptation and the social organization and behavior of some of our closest relatives so that we can understand how humans are distinctive. We also review the primate fossil record that provides a detailed record of our natural history. In so doing, we learn how scientists reconstruct the behavior of extinct creatures, reconstruct past environments, and develop detailed hypotheses about evolutionary relationships among extinct and extant creatures. We also take a close look at the fossil record as it bears on human evolution, highlighting the first appearance of a series of distinctive human attributes. 

Learning Objectives 

  • Understand the basics of natural selection;
  • Learn about key discoveries that led to our understanding of the age of the world and the antiquity of humanity;
  • Study the major groups of primates (e.g., lemurs, old world monkeys, apes) and their adaptations;
  • Critically analyze the ways humans are similar to extant great apes (e.g., chimpanzees, gorillas) and ways that we differ from them;
  • Know the key fossils that highlight our evolution over the past several million years.

In this course, you will

  • Learn to evaluate fossil evidence of human evolution;
  • Form groups to discuss issues like primate intelligence, conservation, and the physical evidence for the existence, or non-existence, of bigfoot.