SYLLABUS

Anthropology 334/Human Development 312 Fall 2003
Comparative Aspects of Human Growth

COURSE OUTLINE

Instructor: Michael A. Little
Office: Science 1 - Rm. 102, tel. 777-2732, email mlittle@binghamton.edu
Class: T,Th 8:30-9:55 pm, Meeting Place: LH 009
Office Hours: T,Th 2:00-3:00 pm and by appointment

Teaching Assistant:
Office:
Office Hours:

Marta Alfonso
Science 1 - Room 214
T 10:15-11:15 am W 3:30-4:30 pm

Course Content and Objectives

Growth is a fundamental characteristic of life itself and can be studied from a number of approaches, including molecular biology, behavior and cognition, physical growth processes, and even growth of organisms in ecological and evolutionary perspectives. We will touch on a variety of perspectives of human growth, but emphases will be placed on human variation during the life cycle and on biobehavioral aspects of growth. The life cycle refers to conception and reproduction (in adults), gestation and birth of the fetus, growth of the infant through childhood and adolescence to maturity, the capability to reproduce, and continued growth through maturity to senescence and death. Human growth is a complex and intellectually fascinating process. A knowledge of human growth and reproduction has value to all students in health-related, biobehavioral, and social sciences. A knowledge of human growth has practical value, as well, especially for anyone who plans to reproduce and take on the task of raising children to adulthood. Hence, this course also will contribute to your parenting skills.

Required Reading

(B) Bogin, B. 1999. Patterns of Human Growth, 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
(N) Nilsson, L. 1993. A Child is Born. Delacorte Press, New York. (listed by page in course outline)
(C) Cameron, N.(ed.). 2002. Human Growth and Development. Academic Press, New York. [on reserve in reserve reading room]
(S) Stinson, S., B. Bogin, R. Huss-Ashmore, and D. O'Rourke. 2000. Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective. Wiley Liss, New York. [on reserve in Library Reserve Reading Room]

Course Format

The class format will be lecture but with questions and discussion encouraged. Evaluation will be based on a midterm examination given about the 6th or 7th week of classes (30%); a comprehensive final examination (40%); a poster due at the end of the 13th week of classes (25%); and class participation (5%).

Course Outline
Week Topic Assignments
9/2-9/9 Introduction: growth processes/statistical
analysis/basic genetics 		B 1, 2
9/11 Growth and Evolution B 3
9/16-9/23 Reproduction: physiology/anatomy/endocrinology/fertility/sex
and behavior 		N pp.11-57
9/25-9/30 Gestation and Pregnancy: the embryo and fetus/pregnancy changes N pp. 58-147
10/2-10/7 Birth and the Perinatal and Neonatal Periods: adjustments at birth/congenital abnormalities/the newborn infant N pp. 148-204
10/9-10/14 Measurements and Standards of Growth B 4, 5
10/16-10/21 Infancy and Childhood: biological and behavioral norms/individual and population variation C 2
10/23 <<MIDTERM EXAMINATION>>  
10/28-10/30 Skeletal and Dental Growth: anatomy/bone growth/tooth eruption/maturation measures  
11/4-11/6 Adolescence and Puberty: reproductive system/other systems/population variations C 3
11/11-11/13 Body Composition and Physique: sex differences/genetic factors/population variation C 13
11/18-11/20 Environmental Influences and Secular Changes: secular trends/climate, disease, nutrition/health and fitness/sociocultural
factors		 B 6, 7, 8
11/25-12/2 Aging Processes: theories of aging/morbidity-mortality
relationships/senescence of specific systems		 S 13
12/4-12/9 Poster presentations  
12/11 <<REVIEW SESSION>>  
TBA <<FINAL EXAMINATION>>  

The Poster Presentation

A Note on the Posters

Each poster will be prepared by a team of three students. Since the major emphasis of the course is on "human variation during the life cycle and on biobehavioral aspects of growth," posters must address these themes or they are considered inappropriate for presentation. Therefore, all poster topics must be approved by the instructor before major research and writing begins, and this approval is contingent on a rough outline of the plan for the poster.
Suggested Topics  
Birth weight variation and its outcomes Breastfeeding and fertility
Factors related to age of menarche Body composition and menarche
Cultural practices that affect growth Population variations in longevity
Genetics and growth at the population level Environmental toxins and child growth
Secular trends in growth of non-Western peoples Population variations in menopause
Historical causes of secular trends in Western peoples Growth effects on pregnant teenagers
Sex differences in longevity Sex differences in secular trends
Breastfeeding influences on growth during infancy Growth and sports
Disease influences on growth (at specific ages) Growth as a saltatory process
Standards of growth for non-Western peoples Growth in obese children
Growth in a given population (e.g., Pygmies, Bushmen, Eskimo) Age changes in a system of your choice (sensory, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, etc.)

Preparing the Poster

Posters are being used more frequently than presented papers at scientific meetings. They are an effective way to present information that is both attractive and interesting, and where the viewer can read the materials at her/his own pace. The scientific materials for the poster should be collected in the same way as materials for a term paper. The difference is that a poster should include more diagrams, tables, photos, and other illustrative materials and less text than a term paper.

After you have gathered your literature and materials on the topic, prepare an outline of what you wish to present. Then design your presentation with text and figures, and make an initial sketch of your poster, allocating space for an introduction, other topical headings, and a conclusion. Try different arrangements and styles to achieve clarity and simplicity. Use color to enhance and emphasize. The title should be legible 8 feet away, whereas the rest of the poster should be legible at a distance of 5 feet. Enlargements of Xerox copies (including color Xerox copies) of illustrative materials are appropriate for the poster. All illustrations, text, etc. can be mounted to the poster with rubber cement, dry mounting tissue, or two sided adhesive tape. Initial design, measurement, and careful planning is absolutely necessary to produce a neat and well-presented poster.
Evaluation of Posters

Each student will evaluate each of the other posters. This information will be held confidential by the instructor. The instructor will also evaluate each poster, and will take into account (but not be bound by) the student evaluations.
Fall Semester 2003 Calendar (TTH)
  Tuesday Thursday
September 2 4
9 11
16 18
23 25
30
October 2
7 9
14 16
21 23
28 30
November 4 6
11 13
18 20
25
December 2 4
9 11
ANTH 334/HDEV 312 POSTER TEAMS


Group 1
ALEKSEYENKO, SERGE
ANGELES, SARAH S
FIGURACION, ELIZABETH A
VACHARAKITJA, CHANUSPORN

Group 2
AZIZ, AFRINA
BAKER, GRETCHEN L
CZAPLICKI, MARIA L
WILSON, DENICA J

Group 3
BAKER, NANCY M
DERRICK, KELLY J
ROSE, NATALIE D
ZAGER, ERIN

Group 4
BRISCO, ASHLEY A
BROWN, SHAUN C
CLARK, JAMIE A
RAAP, ROBERT S

Group 5
CHANDRICA, PEEADARSHANIE
CLARK, CHAD A
DUPRE, ERICA L
FORNIERI, ALANA R

Group 6
CONINE, CHERYL C
DALY, JOSEPH W
EYDINOVA, YELENA
FIKSMAN, ALEKSEY

Group 7
DIORIO, EMILY A
EDICK, JEFFERY J
LALLEY, VANESSA M
YU, TREVI

Group 8
GANDY, JAMEY
LEIBA, MELISSA A
REYES, MARJORY S

Group 9
GREEN, EBONY
O'ROURKE, CORINNE M
SUMMERS, DANIELLE M

Group 10
GRIFFIS, AMY D
GULDNER, NICHOLAS B
REPETTO, JEFFREY G
STEIGER, NICOLE C

Group 11
HAIMOVICH, DAVID
HILBURGER, NATHAN A
KARAPTIS, CHRISTINA M
TOPEK, CHANA M

Group 12
BOFSHEVER, GENA M
JANG, YOONJUNG
JONES, RYAN P
LEE, KELLY R
MURPHY, KELLY V


Group 13
LIN, DIANA J
LOPENA, CRISTEN A
LUKE, KATHLEEN E
MACKENZIE, KATHERINE E

Group 14
MEDOVICH, JASON A
MEI, XUE FANG
MERRELL, JENNIFER A

Group 15
MILLER, HOLLY B
PANUS, NAOMI K
RAPHEL, JARED W
SHAPINAS, JESSICA A

Group 16
MINAYA, ANGELICA N
MOTT, JESSICA A
NAFTALY, TAMAR R

Group 17
MILLER, KALISTA B
NUNES, MARIO P
PALMIERO, ANA M
PEDICINI, MICHAEL E

Group 18
PORTILLA, JESSICA C
POWERS, SEAN M
RICHARDS, VENECIA T
TAYLOR, SARAH B

Group 19
ROSANOFF, MICHAEL J
RUPPERT, LARYSSA M
RUTTLE, PETER K
SALAS, MARJORIE

Group 20
RUSSELL, JACQUELINE J
SACKOOR, JASON P
SHORE, RAYME L
TSE, MARK S

Group 21
SHAW-HERTZOG, NANCY M
SULLIVAN, JOSEPH D
SUNMOLA-SHINA, SEYI A
TAYLOR, MEGGAN A

Group 22
ROBINSON, AMELIA G
TOMBOLILLO, JENNIFER ANN
VAKHARIA, DIMPLE P
WONG, COURTNEY T

Group 23
WAJSBLAT, LISA
WEISHOLTZ, DIANA M
WILSON, DALORIE R
WOODSON, SARA M

Group 24
FLANAGAN, JENNIFER L
MARATEA, JUSTIN J

 

| Home | Course Descriptions | E-mail | Faculty | BU Home Page |