Course Info: NS-0123
| Course | NS-0123 Human Biological Variation |
| Long Title | Human Biological Variation: Race, Class, Science and Public Health |
| Term | 2019F |
| Note(s) |
Satisfies Distribution Textbook information |
| Meeting Info | Cole Science Center 302 on M,W from 1:00-2:20 |
| Faculty | Alan Goodman |
| Capacity | 23 |
| Available | 9 |
| Waitlist | 0 |
| Distribution(s) |
Physical and Biological Sciences |
| Cumulative Skill(s) | Independent Work Quantitative Skills Writing and Research |
| Additional Info | Students are generally expected to spend approximately 6-10 hours per week on preparation and work outside of class time. |
| Description | This course focused on the science of human genetic and biological variation. How does variation come about in evolution? What is the evolutionary explanation, distribution, and significance of human variation in, for example, sickle cell anemia, skin color, and sports performance? Students read primary literature and consider how differences are studied and to what purpose. This semester we focused on the idea of race as a genetic construct versus a lived, social reality. How did the idea of "natural" races arise, and how and why, despite fundamental scientific flaws, does this idea persist? Finally, we will examine health inequalities by race and class and the potential mechanisms by which racism and socioeconomic inequalities get "under the skin" and lead to health inequalities. |