Biological anthropology is a diverse field centered on using the principles of evolution to understand human diversity and to describe the deeper history we share with our primate relatives. Biological anthropologists make comparisons across time and space to unravel the history of hominins over the last five million years They also compare humans with other animals to identify the unique adaptations that ‘make us human.' They study other topics too, such as why humans are so diverse across the globe, and why human health varies.
Many different kinds of scientists consider themselves biological anthropologists, including paleontologists, archeologists, geneticists, medical doctors, ethologists, and ecologists. What unites them all is a shared interest in studying human evolution, an interest that takes them all over the world for their research. You will find biological anthropologists searching for fossils in Africa's Great Rift Valley, studying orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, digging up archeological sites in Spain to understand how early humans lived, and living with Sherpas in Nepal to examine how they thrive on the world's highest mountains.
To develop a rich understanding about the scientific underpinnings of biological anthropology, begin with this overview, and then explore the many articles below. Learn how evolution forms the backdrop for studying our past. Explore how biological anthropologists go about the business of testing a hypothesis. Come to a greater understanding of what the world-renowned scientist, Theodosius Dobzhansky, meant when he wrote, 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.'
