The Evolution of Human Biodiversity
This is a series of videos on the evolution of human biodiversity from CARTA (Center for Academic Research & Training in Anthropogeny). They talk about the biodiversity in great apes, local adaptations, South American human biodiversity, human immune system diversity, large-scale variation in human genomic DNA, the neurobiology of human cognition, and how evolutionary processes and demographic history have shaped patterns of genetic variation among humans.
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1. Great Ape Biodiversity
Pascal Gagneux, an evolutionary biologist at UC San Diego who studies great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas), explores the biodiversity in great apes.
2. Local Adaptation
Sarah Tishkoff, University of Pennsylvania geneticist, collects DNA samples from a cross-section of Africa's many ethnic groups to shed light on local adaptations.
3. Population Genetic Inference in the Personal Genome Era
Carlos Bustamante is a population geneticist whose research focuses on analyzing patterns of variation within and between species to address fundamental questions in biology, anthropology, and medicine.
4. South American Human Biodiversity
Anne Stone, Associate Professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at the Arizona State University, explores population history to understand how humans in South America have adapted to their environment.
5. Human Immune System Diversity
Peter Parham explores proteins of the human immune system that vary greatly between individuals and populations which modulate the immune response to infection and cancer.
6. Human Genome Structural Variation
Evan Eichler, University of Washington Professor of Genome Sciences, explores large-scale variation in human genomic DNA that contributes to primate gene evolution.
7. Biodiversity in the Human Brain
George Ojemann, Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Washington, explores the neurobiology of human cognition, especially language, memory and learning.
8. Race, Ancestry, and Genomics
Dr. Michael Bamshad explores how evolutionary processes and demographic history have shaped patterns of genetic variation among humans.
| Related Links |
| Ancient DNA and Human Evolution Ancient DNA data have provided unprecedented insights into the recent history of our species. |
| Walking with Cavemen This is a four-part BBC documentary series narrated by Robert Winston, about the story of human evolution from Australopithecus afarensis to Homo sapiens. |
| Origins of Genus Homo This explores evidence bearing on the emergence of our genus, focusing on possible antecedents to Homo, changes in diet and body form as Australopithecus evolved toward Homo, ancient species within the genus, and evolutionary processes. |
| Becoming Human: Unearthing Our Earliest Ancestors This is a three-part NOVA's documentary series investigating the recent discoveries transforming our understanding of our human origins. |
| Prehistoric Autopsy This is a BBC documentary series presented by Professor Alice Roberts and Dr. George McGavin, taking us on an evolutionary journey to meet three of our ancient ancestors - Neanderthals, Homo Erectus, and Lucy. |
| Origins of Us This is a BBC documentary series presented by Dr. Alice Roberts, showing how we evolved away from our ape cousins to become the adaptable, successful species we are today. |
| The Great Human Odyssey This is a three-part CBC documentary series hosted by anthropologist Niobe Thompson, exploring the unlikely survival and the miraculous emergence of Homo sapiens as the world's only global species. |
| The Incredible Human Journey This is a BBC documentary series presented by Alice Roberts, explaining the evidence for the theory of early human migrations out of Africa and subsequently around the world. |