biological anthropology
the study of the biological origins, evolution, and contemporary diversity of humans and their primate relatives
multidisciplinary
an investigative approach that brings the expertise of a number of disciplines to bear on a particular question within an existing field of study
interdisciplinary
an investigative approach that brings diverse fields together to create a new arena of study
thermoregulation
the adjustment of a body temperature within a normal physiological range under varying environmental conditions
biocultural
a research perspective that recognizes the inter-relationship of biology and the many facets of culture, including technology and social behaviour
variation
observable differences within a class of objects, the source of which may be a genetic or environmental or both in interaction
holism
the integrated study of all aspects of human life, biological, cultural, historical, psychological, etc., in order to develop a ocmprehensive view of the whole of the human condition
primatology
the study go the morphology, behaviour, and evolution of nonhuman primates
isotopes
a measurable form of a chemical element varying in the number of neutrons within the nucleus (C12 and C14 are isotopes of carbon)
paleopathology
literally, the study of ancient disease and trauma
paleoanthropology
the study of human evolution through fossils and the circumstances in which they are found
forensic anthropology
the application of anthropological knowledge to solving offences committed against people, including homicide and war crimes
osteology
the descriptive and comparative study of bones and teeth
hominin
a term inclusive of modern humans and their bipedal ancestors
anthropometry
the measurement of body form
taxon
a formal designation of biological classification; plural taxa
human biology
a branch of biological anthropology that examines modern population diversity
adaptability
the tendency for an organism to achieve increased functional capacity through a modification of body form and/or physiological pathway when faced with an environmental stressor
molecular anthropology
the study of population diversity at the level of the gene and its products (both structural and regulatory proteins)
medical anthropology
a branch of applied anthropology examining the interplay of culture, biology, health/wellness, disease/illness, and the art of medicine, both traditional and western