RELATION OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY TO OTHER SCIENCES

RELATION OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY TO OTHER SCIENCES

The study of physical anthropology is specially characterized by a wide dimension. Man is not only a complex and highly evolved animal but his life and behavior- pattern are extremely complicated. Thus, the study of physical anthropology centering round biological developments of man and conditioned by cultural activities will not be perfectly made illustrative without going into studies of different sciences. On the other hand, physical anthropology shares the views of these scientific disciplines and most of the time close integration of ideas is found herein. Now-a-days physical anthropology has been contributing a lot to the spheres of studies of different sciences. On the other hand, physical anthropology is being enriched with the varied findings of these scientific disciplines. An attempt has been made here to pin-point the relation of physical anthropology to several allied disciplines.

1.      Relation of Physical Anthropology to Human Biology:

Physical anthropology is the study of the biological perspective of man. Naturally it is study of the biological sciences. In understanding of this gradual process of human evolution the physical anthropologists are in an emergent need to compare the biological features of man and the animals. Modern physical anthropology is highly biology oriented. Study of human genetics has become the essential part of physical anthropology. This particular trend of study of physical anthropology especially human heredity, factors relating to growth and development has enriched the field of human biology.

2.      Relation of Physical Anthropology to palaeontology:      

Palaeontology is the scientific study of fossils. The evaluation of various fossilized remains in relation to geological periods and other associated finds is the major task of the palaeontologists. In searching out human origin the physical anthropologists depends solely on the interpretations of various fossil finds human and non-human ancestors. The principles of palaeontological studies help a lot in these devices of the physical anthropologists.

3.      Relation of Physical Anthropology to Geology:

Geology is the study of the nature and structural pattern of the earth-its land forms, rock formation, various strata of the earth and their formation, and many other related matters. Various happenings in the remote past and the and the records of the oldest forms of life, that flourished long ago, can be highlighted through the systematic study and analysis of the earth’s crusts and different fossil-laden strata in the background of geological methodology. In the study of human evolution as well as various cultural stages of man the physical anthropologists are to go a long way into the past. To study the various layers of earth and to understand the time sequences the physical anthropologist employ the knowledge and findings of the geologists.

4.      Relation of Physical Anthropology to Prehistoric Archaeology:

The biological development of man became more and more conspicuous with the devices of tool using by the earliest types of men. In order to clear out the picture of human differentiation from non-human ancestors it is essential to understand the times and types of tool using as tools are considered as the remarkable cultural achievements helping early men to adjust with the changing situations. Prehistoric archaeology is such a discipline which deals with the tools technology of the remote past periods in relation to the different human types evolved during different periods of geological significance. Thus physical anthropology is closely related to prehistoric archaeology for the fact that it helps in getting a comprehensive idea on the working of early men.

5.      Relation of Physical Anthropology to Physiology:

Modern physical anthropology has changed its angel of vision. From the study of the metric analysis of the superficial bodily parts it has entered into the study of the structural and functional patterns of the various internal organs as well as other physiological features of the body. In addition to the study of various muscular arrangements in the body, functional development of brain, study of blood groups, hemoglobin patterns of human and non-human primates, bio-chemical  variation in man and other animals are now being taken up by the physical anthropologists to bring out the total view of human body development. In this type of study physical anthropology comes very close to physiology for getting actual structural and functional views of these organs.

6.      Relation of Physical Anthropology to Medical Sciences:

Physical anthropology now-a-days tries to explore the nature and extent of various hereditary or genetic diseases. The modern impact of genetics on physical anthropology has opened a new dimension in which various diseases and genetic abnormality oriented happenings have become the important items of discussion of physical anthropology. Various nutritional patterns, growth, deformations and the impact anthropologists in the background of medical sciences. In this way physical anthropology has been combined with medical science to bring forth a new discipline-Medical Anthropology.

7.       Relation of Physical Anthropology to Forensic Science:

Forensic science has its root in medical sciences. It tries to identify the individual through the systematic analysis of skeletonized remains. With these the study of blood types, palm and sole prints also came into the picture of forensic sciences. Forensic science is mainly harnessed to detect the criminals and to bring out the clues of crimes from the study of various bodily remains. The various methodologies for throwing light on the total perspective from the insignificant remains. Thus the stepping of this branch of physical anthropology goes parallel to the understanding of forensic science.

8.       Relation of physical anthropology with demography:

Demography is the science of population. The nature of population is studied through the factors like birth, death, migration, growth, spatial distribution, age-sex structure in the background of time. The studies are conducted through statistical methods. Various statistical data are collected on the features of population as stated and through a systematic analysis of the data the nature of population is brought out. In studying the anthropological perspectives of any human population group this sort of demographic analysis is essential. Thus the study of physical anthropology is inseparable from demographic approach of viewing people.

9.      Relation of Physical Anthropology to Ecology:

Ecology deals with the study of interrelationship between organisms and their surroundings environmental conditions. Human ecology refers to the study of the relationship patterns between the populations and their environment, and energy exchanges with other living organisms. In physical anthropology the study of human ecology is of special importance as it explores the nature and extent of human adjustment s in relation to climates and related matters. The mode of adaptation of human beings has effected the biological features and the study of these changing characteristics is indispensible in understanding human evolution. In physical anthropology there is a specific scope to study the pattern of adaptation to the natural environment.

10.  Relation of Physical Anthropology to Ergonomy:

It is the study of the physical fitness of man in various working conditions. To establish man-machine relation the study of physical anthropology is highly desirable. Various body dimensions are studied with the help of anthropometry and these are put to systematic perspectives. Then the machines are designed according to body dimensions. Various population groups differ in body dimensions, so the machine that are to be used should be designed according to the body of the body dimensions of the population concerned. The differences in body dimensions are resulted from the variety of biological and environmental factors.

11.  Relation of Physical Anthropology to Sport Anthropology:

In the world sports and games various athletes are categorized according to body size and physical development. The participating athletes are studied scientifically on three perspectives-(1) Anthropological characteristics, (2) Genetic features and (3) Family status. In the study of anthropological characteristics various measurements on the bodily parts are done and from which body typings are made. In the study of genetic features the different factors like chromosome, blood groups, taste sensitivity to PTC and finger and palm prints are thoroughly studied. In the field of sports and games these anthropological studies are done in such a systematic manner that these have resulted in the development of new sub-discipline known as Sports Anthropology.

12.  Relation of Physical Anthropology to Population Genetics:

Modern physical anthropology is closely related to the new sub-field known as population genetics. A population in a genetical perspective is defined as “a reproductive community of sexual and cross fertilizing individuals which share in a common gene pool” (Dobzhansky, 1955:37). The basic construct of genetics is the population. The community of potentially interbreeding individuals at a particular locality is termed Mendelian population. The largest Mendelian population is the species and the different species from distinct groups because they do not share the same gene pool. Human races, a much discussed and controversial topic of physical anthropology, are regarded as “Mendelian populations with potential and actual gene flow between their respective gene pool” (Buettner Janush, 1969:389). Populations are breeding isolates due to geographical barriers. The study of races during the present- period has been channelized through this genetic line of thinking. Thus Physical anthropology shares its views with population genetics.