Talk:Biocultural evolution

Initial Notes compiled to Assist Expand this Article
Propose to expand this article .. perhaps following the following structure/schema .. if this is agreeable and finds no objections?:

1 expanding the current introductory summary, more clearly describing it as a bioloigcal/social science synthesis and concept

2 provide a brief history of the concept, including social Darwinism - through sociobiology - to biocultural evolution

3 review units of analysis variously considered to be the locii at which 'biocultural evolution' is understood to occur (just as 'genes' are the unit key within the strictly biological analogies

4 review mechansims variously considered to be the means by which 'biocultural evolution' is understood to occurr (including discussion of natural selection, adaption, innovation etc)

5 review biocultural evolutionary studies: human biology => culture/behaviour

6 review biocultural evolutionary studies: culture/behaviour => human biology

7 review biocultural evolutionary studies': mutual interactions and multiplier effects/processes are emphasised in a more broad manner, locating human individuals as organisms within broader ecologies (including socio-cultural 'environments).

8 review biocultural evolution: ramifications, hypothesis and/or predictions for the future.. including predicted globally warmer future.

1990LOPR
LOPREATO, Joseph (1990) "From Social Evolutionism to Biocultural Evolutionism" ''Sociological Forum. Volume 5, Number. Pages 187-212.

2005GRASS
GRASSIE, William J (2005) Biocultural Evolution in the 21st Century: The Evolutionary Role of Religion. Paper Presented at the XXII International Congress of History of Science in Beijing, China, 26 July 2005

Bruceanthro (talk) 15:59, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Lactose intolerance/tolerance as example
If I understand correctly what this article is talking about, one of the canonical examples is Lactose intolerance/tolerance -- See Lactose_intolerance. -- Writtenonsand (talk) 12:05, 29 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks for that Writtenonsand! On first blush .. the evolution of lactose tolerance would  indeed seem to be an instancing of biocultural evolution .. which might be usefully cited under human culture =[affecting/selecting]=> human biology interaction!


 * There also seem to be articles about the development of speech frontal lobe areas of the brain in early human ancestors etc .. which would be other instances of human culture =affecting/selecting=> human biology


 * Still not sure how it all pans out.. but I think the sociobiology materials will provide instancing of reverse direction biocultural evolution .. where aspects of human biology =[affect/select]=> human culture .. and, in that case, I believe their is material regarding 'incest taboos' across all/most human cultures etc. Bruceanthro (talk) 12:57, 29 January 2008 (UTC)


 * True, though what is interesting is how 'incest' is defined cross culturally. Even going near your mother-in-law in Yanamamo culture is considered incest. Some other examples might include things like human dentition and even some non-human examples like the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria, nylonase, etc. I haven't had time to peruse the literature yet but I look forward to it when I get more free time.--Woland (talk) 16:03, 29 January 2008 (UTC)


 * From my own brief perusal, one of the notable things about the biocultural evolution concept is that the focus is almost entirely upon humans and human evolution .. to the exclusion of human culture =affects/selects=> non-human biology/flora/fauna .. I note some references to primate studies regarding primate 'culture'=affects/selects=>primate biology .. but, other than that, there was an article about human culure =affects/selects =>maize but don't believe this was strictly a biocultural evolution article?!  Bruceanthro (talk) 14:53, 30 January 2008 (UTC)


 * I see. I was going from a few text books I have which are sometimes not the best sources.--Woland (talk) 21:08, 30 January 2008 (UTC)