Physical anthropology

Physical anthropology, sometimes called "biological anthropology", studies the mechanisms of biological evolution, genetic inheritance, human adaptability and variation, primatology, primate morphology, and the fossil record of human evolution. See also: Race.

Branches

• Primatology, the study of our non-human relatives,
• Population genetics, the study of biological human diversity (related to evolutionary biology)
• Human evolution - also called paleoanthropology; the study of the development of humans

The study of human evolution often involves other specializations:

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• human osteology, the study of skeletal material. Experts in osteology are able to apply their skills and knowledge to other areas:
• Paleopathology, which studies the traces of disease and injury in human skeletons
• Forensic anthropology, the analysis and identification of human remains in the service of coroners or medical examiners. This research often provides law enforcement with important evidence.