physical anthropology

physical anthropology

Branch of anthropology concerned with the study of human evolution and human biological variation. Research on human evolution involves the discovery, analysis, and description of fossilized human remains. Two key goals are the identification of differences between humans and their human and nonhuman ancestors, and the clarification of the biological emergence of humankind. A variety of quantitative methods are used, including the comparative analysis of genetic codes. Research on biological variation among contemporary humans once relied heavily on the concept of race, but today principles of genetics and the analysis of such factors as blood type have largely eliminated race as a scientific category.

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physical anthropology [′fiz·ə·kəl ‚an·thrə′päl·ə·jē]

(anthropology)

The science that deals with the biological aspects of humankind and their relation to historical or cultural aspects. Also known as biological anthropology.