(Taken from the UC Berkeley Course Guide)
This course explores the ways that evolutionary theory, natural selection, drift, genetics, and epigenetics can illuminate our understanding of human health and disease. The course begins with an overview of primate and hominid evolution and human genetic variation. We then evaluate reproductive biology and maternal/child health through an evolutionary lens. We explore how human ecosystem interactions influence diet, metabolic adaptations, hematological adaptions, human microbiome, and human pathogens. We examine evolutionary concepts related to aging, senescence and development of cancer. Finally we study psychology, behavior, and social/cultural organization through an evolutionary perspective.
Biology 1B, or equivalent
Spring only
3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week.