Evolution of the human diet: Difference between revisions
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The '''evolution of the human diet''' is an important research topic within [[physical anthropology]] and [[Anthropology#Nutritional_anthropology|nutritional anthropology]]. It involves evidence drawn from [[human biology]], [[nutrition|nutritional science]], the [[paleoanthropology|paleoanthropological]] analysis of [[hominin]] fossil remains, and comparative studies in [[primatology]]. Key issues that have been investigated to date include the functional relationship of [[tooth|dentition]] and craniofacial [[anatomy]] to diet, behavioral [[adaptation | The '''evolution of the human diet''' is an important research topic within [[physical anthropology]] and [[Anthropology#Nutritional_anthropology|nutritional anthropology]]. It involves evidence drawn from [[human biology]], [[nutrition|nutritional science]], the [[paleoanthropology|paleoanthropological]] analysis of [[hominin]] fossil remains, and comparative studies in [[primatology]]. Key issues that have been investigated to date include the functional relationship of [[tooth|dentition]] and craniofacial [[anatomy]] to diet, behavioral [[adaptation]]s to diet (such as the use of [[stone tool|tools]] and [[Fire#History_of_human_use|fire]]), the [[metabolism|metabolic]] consequences of increased [[encephalization]], and the relative evolutionary importance of [[omnivore|meat-eating]]. Ancient hominin diets are inferred through a wide range of techniques, such as [[biomechanics]], dental [[microwear]] analysis, [[isotope analysis|stable isotope analysis]], and [[paleoecology|paleoenvironmental reconstruction]]. | ||
Revision as of 12:54, 20 February 2008
The evolution of the human diet is an important research topic within physical anthropology and nutritional anthropology. It involves evidence drawn from human biology, nutritional science, the paleoanthropological analysis of hominin fossil remains, and comparative studies in primatology. Key issues that have been investigated to date include the functional relationship of dentition and craniofacial anatomy to diet, behavioral adaptations to diet (such as the use of tools and fire), the metabolic consequences of increased encephalization, and the relative evolutionary importance of meat-eating. Ancient hominin diets are inferred through a wide range of techniques, such as biomechanics, dental microwear analysis, stable isotope analysis, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
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