'Race' was once thought capable of explaining a great deal about both human biology and society. That is no longer true; but biological variation between individuals and between populations is real and remains to be explained. This course is about that variation, especially in physical traits, blood genetics and DNA. Variation amongst peoples of the world will be viewed as an outcome of evolution and biogeography, and as a reflection of ancestry, interrelationships and population histories.  The main emphasis will be on exploring findings on human population diversity and anthropological genetics and genomics, compared with inferences from archaeology and linguistics.

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Master the essentials of the factual groundwork presented in the course, especially in the lectures and the required readings; and demonstrate awareness of key facts and the contributions of pivotal authors in the literature on human ‘races’ and on human genetic and phenotypic variation, viewed especially at a geographical and population level
2. Place the ‘race’ concept in its social and historical context, and demonstrate a secure grasp of fundamental concepts in general human, population and anthropological genetics
3. Apply basic genetic principles to the solution of simple problems in the analysis of pedigrees, disease risk assessment and ratios of variants in populations
4. Use a selective case study approach to explain a topic or argument in the field orally to your peers, in a clear, concise, analytical and evidence-based manner, couched so as to elicit discussion; and respond thoughtfully to the substance of peers’ similar contributions
5. Draw together material from a range of scholarly sources relevant to a topic or proposition in the field, to form a unified text which sets out your own independent, where appropriate critical, assessment of that material, balancing general argument and supporting evidence

One 2,500 word essay (45%); an option to re-submit may be offered [Learning Outcome 5]

One mid-semester and one final examination (totalling 45%), covering respectively the first and second parts of the course [Learning Outcomes 1-3]

One short tutorial presentation (10%) [Learning Outcome 4]

This course is normally offered in odd-numbered years

Normally there will be two hours of lectures, one hour of tutorial, and in some weeks one hour of film/videos weekly; plus private study to bring the total weekly commitment to ten hours per week.

12 units of 1000-level Anthropology (ANTH), Archaeology (ARCH) or Biology (BIOL) courses.

Harrison, G A, Tanner, J M, Pilbeam, D R and Baker, P T, Human Biology, Part II, 3rd edn, Oxford UP, 1988
Cavalli-Sforza, L.L. & F., The great human diasporas, Reading, Mass., Addison-Wesley, 1995
Jones, S, In the blood, London, HarperCollins, 1996
Ridley, M, Genome, London, HarperCollins, 2000
Wells, S, Journey of Man, London, Penguin, 2003