Dr. Henry Erlich - Genetic Reconstruction of the Past
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Henry Erlich, Researcher Emeritus at Benioff UCSF Children's Hospital, joins the show to discuss his book, Genetic Reconstruction of the Past: DNA Analysis in Forensics and Human Evolution. We chatted about what it was like to pioneer PCR tests along with how PCR testing works, its applications (including medicine, understanding human evolution, and forensics), and some of the ethical dilemmas around DNA testing more generally. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode + helpful sites and articles: Erlich, H. (2023). . Oxford University Press. Ed. H Erlich, E Stover, TJ...
info_outline
Dr. Christopher Schmitt - Vervets and woolly monkeys
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Christopher Schmitt of Boston University joins the show to talk about how he uses life history theory and epigenetics as a lens for his work with vervets and woolly monkeys. We also chatted about the highs of fieldwork, along with understanding how identity can affect an individual's experience of the field. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode + helpful sites and articles: Schmitt, C., Service, S., Jasinska, A. et al. . Int J Obes 42, 765–774 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2017.301 Carrey, N. (2011). . Stearns, S.C. (1992). . Oxford...
info_outline
Dr. Kate Clancy - Period: The Real Story of Menstruation
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Kate Clancy of Illinois State University Urbana-Champaign joins the show to talk about her book, Period: The Real Story of Menstruation. We touch on what periods are, why humans might menstruate, factors that affect menstruation, the study of women's health in general, and a few things to keep in when doing research. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode + helpful sites and articles: Clancy, K. (2023). . Princeton University Press. () Ellison, P.T. (2003). . Harvard University Press. Van Der Sijpt, E. (2018). . Vanderbilt University Press. Nguyen, M. (2024)....
info_outline
Dr. Rebecca Gilmour - Roman bioarchaeology
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Rebecca Gilmour of Mount Royal University talks about bones, their mechanics, and how we can use both to understand humans' lives in the past -- especially around her main focus of disability and care in ancient Rome. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode + helpful sites and articles: Ed. CS Hirst, RJ Gilmour, FA Cardoso, KA Plomp. (2023). . Elsevier. Gilmour, Rebecca & Plomp, Kimberly. (2022). . (OPEN ACCESS). Yearbook of Physical Anthropology. 10.1002/ajpa.24475.. Battles, Heather & Gilmour, Rebecca. (2022). . (OPEN ACCESS). 6. 23–40. 10.5744/bi.2021.0003. ...
info_outline
Dr. Jesse Goliath - Forensic anthropology
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Jesse Goliath of Mississippi State University joins the show to talk about forensic anthropology, including how he ended up in forensic anthropology and how he developed the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons. We also talk about the complicated relationship between race and forensic anthropology, along with the importance of bringing diverse perspectives to the field. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode + helpful sites and articles: Goliath, J.R., Yim, A., & Juarez, J.K. (Eds). (2024). . [Special issue]. Humans, 4(1). Hagerman, M.A....
info_outline
Dr. Christine Drea – Mechanisms of female dominance (hyenas, lemurs, meerkats)
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Christine Drea of Duke University joined the show to talk about mechanisms of female dominance, which is when females of a species are more dominant in groups than males. Dr. Drea looks at how genetics, hormones, and social dynamics interact with each other to result in female dominance in hyenas, meerkats, and lemurs. Content warning: We talk about animal genitalia and hyenas' traumatic birthing process. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode + helpful sites and articles: Dixons, A. (2012). . Oxford University Press. Ellison, P. (2003). . Harvard University...
info_outline
Dr. Lauren Butaric - Sinuses
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Lauren Butaric of University of Florida joined the show to talk about sinuses - what they are, why we have them, how they can be used in forensic contexts, and what they can tell us about people. I personally love these anatomy-based discussions. It's just so exciting to do a deep dive into these dark cavities. Here are some of the articles I found helpful while prepping for this episode: Campbell, Jessica & Butaric, Lauren. (2022). . Biology. 11. 1075. 10.3390/biology11071075. Butaric, Lauren & Campbell, Jessica & Fischer, Kristine & Garvin, Heather. (2022). ....
info_outline
Dr. Gwen Robbins Schug - Bioarchaeology + anthropology in policymaking
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Gwen Robbins Schug from the University of North Carolina - Greebsboro discusses some of the projects her lab is working on, including skeletal and dental pathology in past populations and istopic analysis of human remains. She also touches on the importance of integrating biological anthropology into climate change and global health policies. These two articles are great examples of how bio anthro could inform policymaking: G. Robbins Schug, S. E. Halcrow, . Bioarchaeol. Int. 6, 179–200 (2022). G. Robbins Schug et al., . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 120 (2023). ...
info_outline
Dr. Sabrina Sholts - The Human Disease: How We Create Pandemics, from Our Bodies to Our Beliefs
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Sholts of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History joins the show to discuss her new book, The Human Disease: How We Create Pandemics, from Our Bodies to Our Beliefs. Dr. Sholts uses an anthropological lens to understand epidemics. She touches on One Health, historical and current epidemics, the role misinformation plays in the spread of disease, and science communication. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode: Sholts, S. (2024). . MIT Press. Lieberman. D. (2014). . Vintage Books. Garrett, L. (2020). . Picador USA. Villarosa, L. (2023). . Anchor...
info_outline
Dr. Mark Griffin - Teeth in pre-contact Native American groups
AnthroBiology Podcast
Dr. Griffin of San Francisco State University joins the show to discuss dental caries and toothwear in pre-contact Native American groups. Books, articles, and media mentioned in this episode: Griffin, MC. (2014). . Am J Phys Anthropol, 154(2), 171-188. Griffin, MC. (2018). . In S Chappell Hodge & KA Shuler Bioarchaeology of the American Southeast: Approaches to Bridging Health and Identity in the Past (1st ed., pp 69-91). University of Alabama Press. Ed Yong. (2016). Ecco. Kathleen McAuliffe. (2016). . Mariner Books. Clinical literature on auditory exostoses (detective drama,...
info_outlineDr. Robert Anemone of the University of North Carolina - Greensboro joins the show to talk about how advances in geospatial tech can help paleoanthropologists find productive sites, along with how he's used it in his real life field work in the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming. Helpful background: Fossil GPS, Scientific American, May 2014, Anemone & Emerson
Find links to articles, books, and pics at AnthroBiology.com. Find the show on Instagram and Twitter @AnthroBiology.