Biomedical and Human Evolution Research and Teaching Lab

The Biomedical and Human Evolution lab contains the department’s teaching collection of hominid and primate crania and postcrania, as well as our basic genetic analyses equipment.

The lab is used to teach the morphological and functional evolution of the human species through time and space. By studying the skull casts and primate samples, you can contrast and compare between groups of our closest extinct and living relatives. Another way of studying the human species is by looking at our closest living relatives, therefore we also offer primatology instruction in this lab facility.

This lab is used to study the human ecological impact and culture in relation to health issues. You will learn about the field of medical anthropology and the applications of understanding complex health issues, as well as the field of anthropological genetics in population, health and archaic contexts.

The lab is equipped with genetic analysis and basic osteological measurement tool.

The morphological evolutionary changes of our species can be observed in the skull cast collection, containing over 30 hominid specimens of varying species through time.

In addition to several fossil species, there are skull casts of:

• orangutans
• baboons
• gorillas
• chimpanzees

We also have a real old-world monkey skeleton and a fully articulated human skeleton.