Related UW Courses

ANTH 436 : Comparative Family Organization

Function and structure of family developmental processes in band, tribal, peasant, and modern societies. Illustrates inter- and intrasocietal variation and provides data for construction of formal models of process and variation in family systems. Prerequisite: either one 200-level ANTH course, LING 203, or SOC 352.

ANTH 440 : Child Rearing, Culture, and Health

Cross-cultural study of the child-rearing practices, cultural norms, and health behavior of children and adolescents in different societies. Comparative approaches, diverse theoretical postures, and empirical research findings are used. Offered: jointly with NURS 495.

ANTH 457 : Ecological Anthropology (Smith)

Survey of anthropological research on interaction between human societies and their environments. Logic of different subsistence systems; intensification and transformation of subsistence strategies; population regulation; ecological aspects of human nutrition, disease, spatial organization, ethnicity, social stratification, conflict, and cooperation; historical roots of current ecological crisis.

ANTH 486 : Human Family Systems: Biological and Social Aspects

Biological bases for human mating and reproduction. Examination of the range of cross-cultural variability in human systems of kinship and marriage; comparisons among a wide range of human and nonhuman species and between Western and non-Western human societies. Interplay of biological, ecological, and sociocultural factors in determining the structure and function of human family systems. Offered: jointly with SOC 486

ANTH 535 : Research Issues in Demography and Population Studies

Interdisciplinary seminar on current research issues in demography and population studies. Critical analysis and discussion of readings drawn from anthropological, economic, geographic, and sociological approaches.

ANTH 556 : The Evolution of the Family

Biological evolution of species-specific behaviors and forms of sociality linked to human mating, reproduction, and parenting. Cultural evolution of human systems of kinship and marriage as fitness-maximizing adaptations to a wide range of habitats. Prerequisite: upper-division course in evolutionary theory, population genetics, behavioral ecology, primatology, or animal behavior. Offered: jointly with SOC 556.

BIO A 450 : Biodemography Seminar

This course is an introduction to the theory, methods and literature of biodemographic research. Biodemography examines the biological aspects of aging, mortality, and fertility, typically within a life history framework. Biodemography is an interdisciplinary field, specifically using and tying together theory and methods from the fields of demography, anthropology, sociology, evolutionary biology, molecular biology and population biology. It covers pre-historic, historic and modern human populations, as well as non-human model systems (e.g. non-human primates, fruit flies, nematode worms, bats, cars). The goal of this course is to broadly survey the biodemographic literature focusing on the life history biology of the fundamental demographic measures of reproduction and mortality.
[ Syllabus ]

BIO A 455 : Reproductive Ecology Laboratory Seminar

This course is an introduction to the theory and methods of laboratory-based research in reproductive ecology. The focus is on learning lab methods for reproductive hormone assays, and how these methods are designed and applied in anthropological, biodemographic, ecological and epidemiological research. The format includes 1) readings on assay methods, 2) readings on the application of these methods in various settings and 3) performance of reproductive steroid assays in the laboratory.
Advancing technology in molecular biology in the last two decades has facilitated more detailed research in reproductive biology than was previously possible. To bring the advantages of these methods to research in anthropology requires specialized training, which this course is designed to provide. We focus on application of these methods to the populations, field conditions and research questions of relevance to anthropologists, including human and non-human primate applications.
In this course students will learn about enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and related methods (ELISA, IEMA, RIA, IFMA), and the various body fluids that can be used to examine hormone concentrations. The collection, assay, storage and analysis of hormonal data will be covered. The methods for measuring two urinary steroid EIAs (for forms of estrogen and progesterone) will be learned “hands-on.”
After learning how to do the EIA’s, students will design and carry out their own assay experiment, which will include assay work, data entry and analysis, and comprehensive write up. The hands-on work enables students to learn how to design experiments, carry out assays, trouble-shoot assay problems, analyze and graph results, and write up scientific reports. EIA lab methods and Microsoft Excel will be extensively used.

BIO A 470 : Evolution of Human Social Behavior

Winter 2008, MWF 1:30-2:50 (5 cr)
Instructor: Eric A. Smith (easmith@u)

BIO A 470 is a new course in the Biocultural Anthropology program, open to those in other programs with the requisite background. This course surveys key concepts, research strategies, and debates concerning the processes and results of biocultural evolution. "Biocultural" refers to the joint influence of genetic and cultural systems of inheritance on behavior. We will focus on current theories & findings in this field, and the complementarity of different approaches to biocultural evolution, including behavioral ecology, dual transmission theory, cultural phylogeny, and evolutionary psychology.

The format of the course is a combination of lecture, discussion, and student presentation. The reading load is fairly intensive, including both introductory material and scholarly journal articles. Motivation and ability to keep up with the reading and participate meaningfully in the class discussions and student presentations is critical.

Recommended preparation: Students should have some background in evolutionary biology (at least an introductory course such as BIOL 354 or BIO A 201), or else a strong grounding in microeconomics (entry code required).

Students interested in an entry code for this course should contact the instructor with information about their preparation and interest in the course. Send an email to easmith@u.washington.edu with the following information:

1. What relevant courses you've previously taken


2. Why you are interested in taking this course


3. Your academic major & any relevant minors or past majors


4. Your class level (senior, grad, etc.)


5. Your cumulative GPA

BIO A 483 : Human Genetics, Disease, and Culture

Considers relationships among genetic aspects of human disease, cultural behavior, and natural habitat for a wide variety of conditions. Also considers issues of biological versus environmental determinism, adaptive aspects of genetic disease, and the role of cultural selection. Prerequisite: BIO A 201.

BIO A 491 : Issues in Human Paleontology

Addresses five major unanswered questions concerning human evolution as represented by the fossil record. Prerequisite: BIO A 389.

BIO A 520 : Human Behavioral Ecology

Principles and methods of evolutionary behavioral ecology, and critical examination of their application to human behavior in such areas as resource utilization, mating, parenting, life history, cooperation, and competition.

BIO A 526 : Quantitative Methods and Modeling in Biological Anthropology

Surveys the concepts, tools, and methods for developing quantitative models based on underlying biocultural processes. Introduces methods of testing models from observations collected in anthropological field studies. Oriented toward longitudinal research of fertility, mortality, disease dynamics, population genetics, and other biocultural processes.

BIO A 590B : Biomarker Methods Research Group

BIO A 590B / CSDE 595

This is a new course offering, cross-listed between anthropology and CSDE.

This two credit course is offered for two quarters each academic year (Autumn and Winter).

Meeting time: every other MONDAY, 4:30-6:00pm

The course instructors are Dr. Kathleen O’Connor, Associate Professor of Anthropology, and Eleanor Brindle, Biodemography Core Director of CSDE.

The primary objective is to help build and maintain a vibrant, diverse, and leading-edge biomarker and population health community of researchers. It will facilitate exposure to, and participation in, a range of work, across disciplines, using biomarker methods, and provide a stimulating and sustained environment for growth, ideas, and collaboration.

The seminar format will be that of a 90 minute meeting every two weeks (5 meetings per quarter). The meetings will consist of
1) presentations and discussions on participant’s proposed or ongoing research, with a focus on field, lab and analysis methods for biomarker data
2) brainstorming and trouble-shooting discussions with the group
3) training sessions on field, lab and analytical methods for biomarker data
4) presentations and discussions of current papers and developments in biomarker methods.

Participants will include graduate students who register for the course, and importantly, faculty who are interested in adopting, or whose work already involves, biomarkers. Participation is open to graduate students and faculty across campus. A unique feature of this course is provision of a learning and work-group environment for faculty.

The rationale for the course is to meet a perceived need for outreach to faculty and students interested in adopting biomarkers in their research who have little training or experience in biological measures and methods. This format allows for ongoing dialogue in a low time investment venue that will yield high-return in terms of knowledge and collaborative work.

For more information please contact Kathleen O'Connor (oconnork@u.washington.edu)or Eleanor Brindle (ebrindle@u.washington.edu).