Biological Profile

Code: BIO14691M

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Biological Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

The course contents address the most relevant issues for any researcher in Biological Anthropology, such as sex and age at death estimation methodologies, morphometric parameters and ancestrally estimation.

Sustainable Development Goals

Saúde de qualidade - Assegurar uma vida saudável e promover o bem-estar para todos, em todas as idades.

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

Trabalho digno e crescimento económico - Promover o crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável, emprego pleno e produtivo, e trabalho decente para todos.

Reduzir as desigualdades - Reduzir as desigualdades dentro dos países e entre eles.

Learning Goals

This CU aims to:
1. Address the biology of the human skeleton in order to built biological profiles, including sex, age at death, ancestry and stature estimations;
2. Illustrate the various methods with application in the study of ancient human populations;
3. Develop critical thinking about the methodologies to be applied in laboratory research as well as the possible interpretations of the results that lead the investigation;
4. Acquire basic skills in the area of skeletal biology, the ability to plan and execute work in human paleobiology and develop critical thinking about the results.

1. Human osteology: Bone morphology and identification of anatomical structures of the skeleton.
2. Sex estimation in adult skeletons.
3. Age at death estimation:
3.1. Dental formation and eruption;
3.2. Skeletal maturation;
3.3. Metric analysis;
3.4. Degenerative processes.
4. Morphometry (stature and long bone indexes) sexual, chronological and geographical variability.
5. Assessing population identity.

Teaching Methods

Classes will have a solid practical component and allow students to manipulate isolated human bones or skeletons.
Elements to support the types and the actual bibliography will be made available to the students on Moodle platform.

Assessment

The assessment may be continuous with the completion of 5 written tests at the end of each syllabus point on the subject covered. This written tests will have the same weight for the final grade. There will also be the possibility of a final exam, according with the Academic Regulation of the University of Évora.