Introduction to Biology

What Will You Learn?

• You will learn about the origins of humans and how we evolved from ancient primate ancestors over millions of years.
• You'll understand the importance of bipedalism and how walking upright shaped human anatomy and behavior.
• You'll explore major hominin species such as Australopithecus, Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and Homo sapiens.
• You'll learn how brain size and intelligence evolved, leading to tool use, problem-solving, and the rise of culture.
• You'll study key milestones in early human technology, like the use of fire, tools, and clothing.
• You'll understand how humans migrated out of Africa and spread across the globe.
• You'll discover how fossils and DNA evidence help us understand our evolutionary history.
• You'll explore the emergence of culture, including art, language, and symbolic thinking in Homo sapiens.
• You'll learn about interactions with other human species, such as Neanderthals and Denisovans, including interbreeding.
• You'll gain insight into how human evolution is still ongoing, shaped by the environment, culture, and modern lifestyles.

Material Includes

• Textbooks & Books:
• Exploring Biological Anthropology by Craig Stanford, John S. Allen, and Susan Antón
• The Story of the Human Body by Daniel E. Lieberman
• Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari (popular science)
• Introduction to Physical Anthropology by Robert Jurmain et al.
• Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin

Requirements

• Basic Requirements for Studying Human Evolution:
• Knowledge of basic biology concepts – such as evolution, genetics, and natural selection.
• Understanding of key terms – like hominin, bipedalism, fossils, primates, adaptation, and species.
• Access to visual materials – such as fossil images, evolutionary timelines, maps, and diagrams.
• Textbooks or reference books – reliable sources for accurate and in-depth information.
• Documentaries or videos – to help visualize early humans, their environment, and cultural evolution.
• Notebook or digital document – for taking notes, writing summaries, or organizing information.
• Project tools – for assignments or presentations, such as chart paper, PPT software, or models.
• Access to online resources – educational websites like Khan Academy, Smithsonian, or PBS NOVA.
• Critical thinking skills – to compare species, analyze fossils, or interpret human traits.
• Interest and curiosity – an open mindset helps in understanding how humans changed over time.

Audience

• CBSE (11th Standard)

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