Here at Michigan state University, I am an Interdisciplinary Studies major- Health and Society with a minor in anthropology. The word “interdisciplinary” is defined in Merriam-Webster as simply “involving two or more academic, scientific, or artistic disciplines.” An Interdisciplinary Studies degree does just that: it involves covering a broad range of practical and relevant subjects necessary for developing a breadth of understanding society.  Anthropology is the study of people, past and present, with a focus on understanding the human condition both culturally and biologically. This joint emphasis sets anthropology apart from other humanities and natural sciences. In a general sense, anthropology is concerned with determining what humans are, how they evolved, and how they differ from one another. The study of anthropology is often divided into three subdisciplines: archaeology, biological anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Although all three subdisciplines relate to evolution and human variability, biological anthropology is by far the most relatable. In fact, the two primary concept areas that tend to hold biological anthropology together are human evolution and human biosocial variation; there are many topics that can be studied within these two concept areas.

This week’s videos and readings did not make me view evolution and human variability in a different light mainly because my major and minor is literally the exact concept of what we are currently learning right now. In college, I have taken a couple of science classes such as chemistry, anatomy etc., but mostly anthropology classes. From the classes that I have taken I still find the perspective of how evolution and human variability works the same. anthropologists today analyze human biological variation by examining specific genetic traits to understand how those traits originated and evolved over time and why some genetic traits are more common in certain populations. “The 2% difference” article was very interesting to me because I never really knew that 98% of a human’s DNA is the same as a chimpanzee, but after reading the article, it actually made a lot of sense. Although humans and chimps have many identical genes, they often use them in different ways.” A gene’s activity, or expression, can be turned up or down like the volume on a radio. So, the same gene can be turned up high in humans, but very low in chimps.” DNA. The same genes are expressed in the same brain regions in human, chimp and gorilla, but in different amounts. Thousands of differences like these affect brain developments and function and help explain why the human brain is larger and smarter. Since much of our biological diversity occurs mostly within continental regions once believed to be the homelands of distinct races, the concept of race is meaningless in any study of human biology.

I loved that this week’s content focused in on DNA and genes. I really got to study more on how our DNA and genes make up how we are as humans. Science is definitely an interesting thing to study and Im happy that my major focuses in this area.

“DNA: Comparing Humans and Chimps: AMNH.” American Museum of Natural History, www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/human-origins/understanding-our-past/dna-comparing-humans-and-chimps.