No description available.

Forensic anthropology is an applied science sorely lacking in theoretical underpinnings, despite the fact that forensic anthropologists have unique, albeit usually fleeting, access to modern skeletal remains. By constructing a database of three-dimensional images, such remains can be accessed indefinitely. I have proposed a method for just such imaging, using Macintosh hardware and NIH Image software to digitally preserve remains using red-blue three-dimensional imaging techniques. Additionally, I address the qualitative and quantitative accuracy of these images. By creating this type of forensic database, anthropologists can then reformulate outdated methodologies that address issues like populational variance, thereby using modern forensic skeletal remains to better understand some of the fundamental theoretical issues within anthropology.

<p>The Neanderthal (<i>Homo neanderthalensis</i>) femur is distinct from that of recent modern humans (<i>Homo sapiens</i>). Broadly speaking, the Neanderthal femur is more &ldquo;robust&rdquo;, meaning that it appears to be biomechanically stronger, and it is more curved, which may enhance the predictability of the stresses and strains experienced by the bone. It has been hypothesized that the Neanderthal morphology is an adaptation to withstand elevated and repetitive loads associated with increased mobility. This study tests the mobility hypothesis using comparative and biomechanical methods. Specifically, this study sought to test the mobility hypothesis by a) determining whether or not a relationship exists between skeletal variables and day range (a surrogate for mobility) in living primates, and b) using finite element analysis to quantify differences in biomechanical strength between Neanderthals and modern humans while simulating loads associated with bipedal walking, traumatic loads, and stumbling. </p><p> The hypothesis that extant primates with longer day ranges exhibit more robust and more curved bones, used here as an indication of predictability of deformation, is rejected. The hypothesis that Neanderthal femora are as strong as or stronger than recent modern human femora is partially rejected. Under loading regimes simulating normal walking, it is unclear which femur is stronger. The human femur is stronger under simulated traumatic loads. The Neanderthal femur is stronger under loads simulating stumbling. The human femur is more predictable along the neck and at midshaft; the Neanderthal femur is more predictable along proximal and distal diaphyseal sections. The femoral neck is the weakest location on the modern human femur, whereas the distal lateral metaphysis is typically the weakest location on the Neanderthal femur. </p><p> Although a relationship between curvature and robusticity variables could not be confirmed using an extant primate sample, the unexpected results of the Neanderthal/human femur comparisons suggest that because regions of peak stress differ considerably between the species as a result of the differences in morphology, each may be adapted to the specific and typical demands imposed by their respective habitats and lifestyles. </p>

One of the central questions in population genetics is how different forces of evolution influence patterns of genetic variation within and between species. Locus-specific forces of natural selection, like selective sweeps and background selection, are expected to influence only the target of selection and any sites linked to that target. In contrast, genome-wide forces are expected to influence mane different loci simultaneously. In particular, genome-wide forces that have a sex-specific component are predicted to exert disparate influence over the four different genomic compartment, (mitochondrial DNA, non-recombining portion of the Y chromosome (NRY), X chromosome, autosomes) depending on their degree of maternal or paternal inheritance. This study compared levels of genetic variation across the four genomic compartments in the Hominoidea (humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans) in order to test the hypothesis that a high variance in male reproductive success, as predicted from behavioral data, may influence levels of hominoid genetic diversity. First, comparative chromosome and mitochondria) DNA diversity was quantified across species. NRY diversity was lower than mitochondria) DNA diversity in all taxa, and gorillas exhibited no NRY genetic diversity, consistent with their polygynous mating system. In order to determine whether locus-specific or genome-wide factors were responsible, diversity from all four genomic compartments was compared across species. The multilocus approach revealed patterns of variation across all hominoids that are consistent with a model of high variance in male reproductive success: relatively high mitochondrial DNA diversity, relatively low Y chromosome diversity, and intermediate X and autosomal diversity. Examination of orangutan population structure for NRY, mitochondrial DNA, and X-linked loci suggested an influence of sex-specific demographic influence, but was unclear whether other factors were involved. The study suggests that there is an influence of a high variance in male reproductive success on the hominoid genome, but does not preclude the influence of additional locus-specific factors. There are potentially important implications for population genetic models that assume a sex ratio of 1. Additional loci and additional species need to be examined to determine the generality of the pattern, as well as to further investigate the interplay between genome-wide and locus-specific factors.

Europe is a region characterized by a long history of both settlement and resettlement. This study uses information from the haploid systems of the human genome in order to investigate the presence of population structure in Europe and discuss the mitigating effects of shared population history and the impact of evolutionary forces. By means of two kinds of data from the Y chromosome, the study first establishes patterns of diversity across the entirety of Europe. More in-depth analyses investigate the evolutionary effects of settlement and colonization on overall genetic diversity of populations. Finally, considering data from the entire control region sequence, an effort is made to estimate patterns of mitochondrial diversity and compare their import to that of the Y chromosome.

The study of variation in dental morphology has long been an accepted method of assessing biological distance between human populations. Recently, greater emphasis has been placed on detecting biological differences within populations. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine if a refined method of dental morphological analysis is capable of detecting the presence of population subsets. A large collection of skeletal remains from Grasshopper Pueblo in east-central Arizona is the subject of the study. The pueblo was occupied from A.D. 1275 to 1400. Previously, researchers have demonstrated through the application of archaeological and chemical isotope evidence that there were population subsets at Grasshopper that had differing geographic origins within the region. Therefore, the efficacy of intrasite biodistance based on analysis of dental morphology may be tested against this independent source of information regarding population subdivisions. The principal refinement in method involves the measurement of tooth crown components through the use of digital imaging. More than 600 specimens were examined and a full suite of nonmetric and metric traits were recorded. Intra- and interobserver tests were conducted and some traits were excluded from further analyses because of questionable reliability. Replicability of the digital image measurements is encouraging. In general, univariate comparisons of trait frequencies among suspected population subdivisions were not conclusive. Multivariate analysis, using Gower's general coefficient of similarity with subsequent cluster analysis, proved more successful. The spatial distributions of the adult population subdivisions that are suggested by the chemical isotope study and this dental biodistance study are similar. This result tends to confirm the efficacy of dental morphology as a tool for intrasite biodistance investigation. The spatial patterns formed by cluster analysis of juveniles differ substantially from the adult patterns. Furthermore, the use of tooth crown component measurements proved more effective at detecting population subdivisions than the use of standard ordinal traits.

Skeletal asymmetry is assessed by gross osteometry, combined cortical thickness, joint surface area and osteoarthritis score and compared to the reported handedness for 39 individuals. Based on the principles of bone remodeling there is a tacit assumption in the field of anthropology that handedness is the sole source of skeletal asymmetry and thus is predictable from the asymmetric pattern. In general, bone does hypertrophy in response to increased loading and atrophies when loads are chronically diminished. This study demonstrates that handedness is an ambiguous cultural construct and is nor the only contributor to skeletal asymmetry. Individuals exhibit a mosaic of asymmetry between the right and left sides for different measures. The features ranged from zero to 48.0% for the expression of asymmetry in a direction contrary to that expected by the principles of bone remodeling and the reported hand preference. The greatest percent of misclassification occurs for non-right-handed individuals and females. There is a greater frequency of misclassification for measures that reflect function (cortical thickness, joint surface area and osteoarthritis) compared to those that are subject to functional influences only during the growth and development of the individual (gross osteometry). These results indicate that the non-dominant limb is subject to activities heavy enough to stimulate bone remodeling but not dynamic enough to be classified as 'handedness'. Based on this sample skeletal asymmetry is not a reliable, definitive marker for hand preference.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-06, Section: A, page: 2528. Adviser: Steven R. Leigh. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-166) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Anthropology, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-09, Section: A, page: 3930. Adviser: Kevin D. Hunt. Title from dissertation home page (viewed May 8, 2008).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Anthropology, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 11, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-07, Section: A, page: 2998. Adviser: Travis R. Pickering.