Hominid Morphology - Lab Resources
Synopsis
In our "Male-Female Dimorphism in Hominids" lab, students investigate the interplay between physiological and behavioral traits in bonobos, chimpanzees, and humans. By measuring 3D skulls — the .stl files are also provided for free — observing behaviors via videos, students explore linkages between physical and social traits. The lab highlights how the species with pronounced sexual dimorphism (chimps) exhibits male-dominated hierarchies, while in humans and bonobos, less dimorphism and less male-domination is observed. After collecting the data, students are introduced to the self-domestication hypothesis — an evolutionary process leading to greater cooperation and reduced aggression. This way students are in a position to discuss the degree to which the evidence buttresses the contention that humans and bonobos have undergone a form of self-domestication.
