Course: Human Variability and Adaptability

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Course title Human Variability and Adaptability
Course code KSA/LVA
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study 2
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 5
Language of instruction Czech, English, Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Friedl Lukáš, Mgr. Ph.D.
Course content
I. Introduction - human variation and adaptability. The history of research in human variation. II. The context for human variation and adaptability I: the heritability, II: plasticity. III. The context for human variation and adaptability III: population, species and etnic group. The critique of racial concept. IV. Genetic traits and human variation. Phenotypic traits and human variation I: dermal and cranial markers. V. Phenotypic traits and human variation II: body size and proportions. Human adaptation and accomodation. VI. Temperature adaptation and termoregulation. Adaptations for solar radiation. VII. Human adaptations in desert environments. Seminar "deserts". VIII. Human adaptations in arctic zones. Seminar "arctic zones". IX. Human adaptations in high altitudes. Seminar "high altitudes". X. Human adaptation in tropical environments. Seminar "tropical forests". XI. Seminar (rests from previous seminars) XI. TEST

Learning activities and teaching methods
Discussion, Skills demonstration, Lecture, Seminar
  • Contact hours - 52 hours per semester
  • Preparation for comprehensive test (10-40) - 40 hours per semester
  • Presentation preparation (report) (1-10) - 10 hours per semester
  • Preparation for an examination (30-60) - 28 hours per semester
prerequisite
Knowledge
komunikovat na odborné úrovni v cizím jazyce
Skills
porozumět a interpretovat odborný text v českém jazyce
porozumět a interpretovat odborný text v anglickém jazyce
learning outcomes
Knowledge
charakterizovat a popsat biologické, sociální a kulturní kořeny variability minulých a současných populací člověka
rozpoznat a rozlišit interakce člověka a prostředí a jeho schopnost genetické, fyziologické a behaviorální přizpůsobivosti
Skills
z biologické, populační, evoluční a statistické perspektivy spojit do vztahu rozpory lidské klasifikace, koncept ?lidských ras? a biologicko-populační alternativy k těmto rasovým koncepcím
teaching methods
Knowledge
Lecture
Discussion
Self-study of literature
Individual study
Skills
Seminar classes
Discussion
Skills demonstration
Individual study
Self-study of literature
Students' portfolio
assessment methods
Knowledge
Written exam
Test
Skills
Test
Individual presentation at a seminar
Recommended literature
  • Molnar, Stephen. Human variation : races, types, and ethnic groups. Upper Saddle River, N. J. : Prentice Hall, 2002. ISBN 0130336688.
  • Moran, E.F. Human adaptability: Introduction to ecological anthropology. New York: Westview Press Inc.,U.S., 1998.
  • Stringer, Chris; Andrews, Peter. The complete world of human evolution. London : Thames and Hudson, 2005. ISBN 978-0-500-05132-0.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Anthropology (20-4) Category: Philosophy, theology 1 Recommended year of study:1, Recommended semester: Summer
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): Anthropology of Past Populations (16-4) Category: Biology courses 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Summer