MED1021

Introduction to human biology

Associate Professor A R Luff (Physiology)

Objectives The subject has two components: human evolution and genetics. The human evolution component gives an account of our hominoid ancestry and the factors that led to our increase in brain size, toolmaking and the development of speech. By understanding the selective forces that have made us what we are, we can begin to see how we have come to overpopulate the world and destroy the natural environment. The genetics component provides an elementary introduction to human genetics with a discussion of the genetic code, mitosis and meiosis, dominant and recessive modes of inheritance, mutation and the effects of selection, with clinical examples.

Synopsis Evolution, starting with the origins of life on earth, the appearance of the primates, the development of old world and new world monkeys and the African ape-like ancestors of humans. Students are taken to Melbourne Zoo to view the primate collection and shown skulls of our hominoid ancestors. Human mating systems and sexual selection culminating in speculation about our ultimate fate as a species in the light of our excessive population growth and environmental destruction. Human genetics on the relevance of genetics to medicine by discussing the role of mutations in selection, the transmission of genetic information between generations by meiosis, abnormalities that can result from mitotic and meiotic errors, the inheritance of single gene defects, polygenetic inheritance, population genetics and genetic counselling.

Assessment Examination (2 hrs): 75% · Essay: 25%

Prescribed texts

Cannon and Ferguson-Smith Essential medical genetics 5th edn, Blackwell Science, 1997
Diamond J M The rise and fall of the third chimpanzee Hutchinson, 1991

Recommended texts

British Museum (Natural History) Man's place in evolution 2nd edn, CUP, 1991
Dawkins R River out of eden Wiedenfeld and Nicolson, 1995
Jones S and others (eds) The Cambridge encyclopedia of human evolution CUP, 1992
Pilmer I Telling lies for god Random House, 1994
Snustad and others Principles of genetics Wiley, 1997

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