Semester:
Spring
Offered:
2025
How did the human body evolve to be the way it is, and how does that evolutionary history influence how we can promote health and prevent disease?
Daniel Lieberman and Kevin Uno
How and why did humans evolve to be the way we are, and what are the implications of our evolved anatomy and physiology for human health in a post-industrial world? Why do we get sick, and how can we use principles of evolution to improve health and wellbeing? To address these questions, this course reviews the major transitions that occurred in human evolution, from the divergence of the ape and human lineages to the origins of modern humans. Also considered are the many effects of recent cultural and technological shifts such as agriculture and industrialization on human health.