Human Evolution: An Overview

The course provides a basic knowledge of human evolution and prehistory. We will study the latest findings from genetic research on human evolution, how the genome works in humans, and how genomic variation is investigated and analysed. We will also focus on man's closest relatives, such as Neanderthals and archaic groups from the Homo genus, partly from a fossil and archaeological perspective, and partly from a genetic perspective. We will discuss questions about when and where modern man originated. What genes have changed during human evolution? Lectures will be given in English but in the discussions, you can speak Swedish or English. **Outline for distance course:** Teaching takes place through Zoom meetings and lectures, email and in the learning management system Studium. Mandatory Zoom-meetings will tentatively be held 17:30-20:00 on Thursday evenings with two exceptions (mandatory meetings on Thursday: 3 September, 10 September, 24 September, 8 October, 22 October, 5 November, 19 November, 3 December, 10 December 2026, as well as on 14 January 2027. In addition, mandatory meetings will be held on Tuesday 12 January, and Wednesday 13 January 2027).