AN441 Physical Anthropology NUI assignment sample Ireland

Physical anthropology is the study of human beings as biological organisms, in comparison to other animals. It includes the examination of the fossil record to learn about human evolution, as well as the study of living populations to understand their variation and how they adapt to their environment.

Physical anthropology has helped us learn a great deal about our species, including where we came from, how we evolved, and what makes us unique compared to other animals. It’s an important field of study that can provide valuable insights into our past and present.

One of the primary goals of physical anthropology is to understand how humans evolved and adapted over time. This involves studying the fossil record, which can tell us about the early stages of human evolution, as well as analyzing living populations to see how they vary geographically and how they adapt to their environment. By understanding our evolutionary history, we can gain a better understanding of who we are and where we came from.

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In this course, there are many types of assignments given to students like individual assignments, group-based assignments, reports, case studies, final year projects, skills demonstrations, learner records, and other solutions given by us. We also provide Group Project Presentations for Irish students.

In this section, we are describing some activities. These are:

Assignment activity 1: Understand the theory of Evolution.

There are a few different ways to think about the theory of evolution. One way is to view it as a process of change that happens over time. This change can be gradual, or it can happen in spurts. Another way to think about evolution is as a series of steps, with each step representing a change in the genetic makeup of a population.

The most important thing to remember about the theory of evolution is that it is supported by an extensive body of scientific evidence. This evidence comes from many different disciplines, including paleontology, genetics, and anthropology. The theory of evolution is also consistent with what we observe in the world around us. For example, we see animals and plants that have adapted to their environment in order to survive.

The theory of evolution is not just a theory; it is a fact. It is supported by an enormous amount of scientific evidence, and it is the foundation upon which our understanding of biology is built.

Assignment activity 2: Describe the important features of primates.

There are a few key features that distinguish primates from other mammals.

• First, primates have opposable thumbs, which allows them to grip objects and climb trees easily.
• Second, they have large brains relative to their body size, and this gives them superior intelligence and problem-solving abilities.
• Third, many primates live in social groups and have complex communication systems, which helps them to cooperatively solve problems and care for the young.
• Finally, primates are generally very agile creatures, able to swing through trees or leap great distances.

All of these features make primates uniquely suited to their environment and allow them to thrive in many different habitats around the world.

Assignment activity 3: Describe the major extinct and extant primate groups using specific examples.

Extant primates are divided into two major groups: strepsirrhines and haplorhines. Strepsirrhines, which include lemurs and lorises, have a wet noses and typically live in warm climates. Haplorhines, which include monkeys, apes, and humans, have dry noses and typically live in cooler climates.

Extinct primates include the adapiforms (a strepsirrhine group), the omomyids (a haplorhine group), and the tarsiers (a strepsirrhine group). The adapiforms were small tree-dwellers with grasping hands and feet. The omomyids were small mammals that lived on the ground and were the earliest haplorhine primates. The tarsiers are the smallest of all primates, and they live in trees and hunt insects.

While there is some debate over which group is more closely related to humans, it is generally agreed that the omomyids are more closely related to us than the adapiforms.

Assignment activity 4: Describe the concept of ‘human’ with reference to the hominid lineage.

The word ‘human’ can refer to the species as a whole, Homo sapiens, or to an individual member of that species. In terms of the latter, a human is a bipedal mammal belonging to the primate order and characterized by advanced cognitive abilities and a capacity for complex social interactions.

In terms of the former, humans are one of several extant hominid groups. Hominids are members of the biological family Hominidae, which includes both extinct and extant species. The family is generally considered to include all Great Apes – chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and humans – as well as their immediate ancestors. Therefore, in referring to the concept of ‘human’ with reference to the hominid lineage, one is referring to the fact that humans are members of a group of closely related species that includes both extinct and extant members.

Assignment activity 5: Describe the major species accepted to be in the hominid lineage.

The major species accepted to be in the hominid lineage are:

• Homo habilis
• Homo erectus
• Homo ergaster
• Homo heidelbergensis
• Homo neanderthalensis
• Denisovans
• Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) are a distinct species of the human genus, who lived in Europe and western Asia from around 250,000 years ago until as recently as 30,000 years ago. Genetic evidence suggests that they interbred with our own species, Homo sapiens, on several occasions. 
• Denisovans (Denisova hominin) are a currently unknown species of human which lived around 40,000 years ago and whose only remnants are DNA found in a finger bone.
• Homo sapiens is the only living species in the human genus. Our species arose in Africa around 200,000 years ago and has since spread to every continent on Earth.

Assignment Activity 6: Describe current and past thinking about the relationship between Homo sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis.

Homo sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis likely had some interaction, as Homo sapiens is thought to have evolved from a group of Homo Neanderthalensis. However, the extent of that interaction is up for debate.

Some scientists believe that Homo sapiens and Homo Neanderthalensis interacted extensively, with interbreeding between the two groups occurring. This would explain why many people carry a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA in their genomes. Other scientists believe that the two groups interacted very little, if at all, and that any cross-breeding between the two groups was rare.

The truth is likely somewhere in between these two extremes. It’s clear that there was some interaction between the two groups, but it’s difficult to determine exactly how much contact there was and what the consequences of that interaction were.

Assignment activity 7: Describe and discuss the importance of fire and tool use in the evolution of the hominids.

Fire and tool use were both incredibly important in the evolution of hominids. Fire provided warmth, protection, and a way to cook food, which made it easier to digest and increased the number of nutrients that could be absorbed from food. Tool use allowed hominids to scavenge for food, kill prey animals, and defend themselves against predators. Together, these innovations helped hominids survive in difficult environments and allowed them to evolve into the humans that we are today.

Assignment activity 8: Describe and discuss European Bog Bodies, their relevance, and the scientific basis of their preservation.

European bog bodies are some of the most mysterious and popular archaeological finds in the world. These incredibly well-preserved human remains have been found in various bogs across Europe, and their discovery has yielded important insights into the lives of people in prehistoric times.

The basis for the preservation of bog bodies is still not fully understood, but it is thought that the unique properties of bog water – high acidity, low oxygen levels, and high peat content – play a role in preventing decomposition. This rare combination of conditions can preserve human tissue for thousands of years, making bog bodies an invaluable source of information for archaeologists.

Bog bodies have provided scientists with a wealth of information about prehistoric people and their cultures. By studying their remains, archaeologists have been able to learn about everything from their clothing and hairstyles to the diseases they suffered from and the way they died. The discovery of bog bodies has revolutionized our understanding of prehistoric Europe and its people.

Assignment Activity 9: Understand and describe, citing specific examples, the practice of forensic osteology.

Forensic osteology is the study of bones and teeth in order to determine the identity of an individual. It can also be used to determine the cause of death, age, and sex. Forensic osteologists often work with archaeologists, physical anthropologists, and homicide detectives.

One of the most important techniques in forensic osteology is the identification of human remains. This can be done using a variety of methods, including DNA analysis and dental comparisons. Another key area of forensic osteology is the study of bones to determine the cause of death. This is often done by looking for signs of trauma, such as broken bones or gunshot wounds. Forensic osteologists can also use techniques like X-rays and CT scans to examine bones in detail. They can even determine the age and sex of an individual by studying their bones.

Forensic osteology is a vital tool in solving crimes and identifying missing persons. It has helped to solve many high-profile cases, and its use is only likely to increase in the future.

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