Course Info: NS-0123
| Course | NS-0123 Human Variation |
| Long Title | Human Variation: Race, Science, and Politics |
| Term | 2018F |
| Note(s) |
Satisfies Distribution Textbook information |
| Meeting Info | Cole Science Center 333 on T,TH from 12:30-1:50 |
| Faculty | Alan Goodman |
| Capacity | 25 |
| Available | 3 |
| Waitlist | 0 |
| Distribution(s) |
Physical and Biological Sciences |
| Cumulative Skill(s) | Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives |
| Additional Info | In this course students are generally expected to spend at least 6 to 8 hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time. |
| Description | This course focused on the science of human biological variation. How does variation come about in evolution? Which variations have adaptive and functional significance and which are "just differences"? What is the evolutionary explanation, distribution, and significance of human variation in, for example, sickle cell anemia, skin color, and sports performance? How are individuals grouped, how are differences studied, and to what purpose? This semester focused on the idea of race as a genetic construct versus lived social reality and, in particular, how race is used in biomedical research. How did the idea of "natural" races arise, and how and why, despite key scientific flaws, does it persist? Finally, we examined health inequalities by race and the potential mechanisms by which racism may lead to poor health. Students in this course were required to keep up with readings and to be active class participants. In addition to small critical reviews, students completed a research project on a topic or question of their choosing. Students started by critically reviewing primary research articles and then built their final papers and class presentations around their reviews. |