Penn State Penn State: College of the Liberal Arts

Center forHuman Evolution and Diversity

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Historically studies in neuroscience have presented their findings regarding how the brain works as universal to all humans, whereas studies in anthropology have focused on the great cross-cultural diversity in behavior and thought. Furthermore, studies of the human brain and mind are typically conducted with samples that are highly unrepresentative of the global population. Therefore, in order to truly understand the functions of the brain and mind across the spectrum of human diversity, it is necessary to integrate theory and methods from anthropology, psychology and neuroscience.

Elizabeth Losin, Associate Professor of Biobehavioral Health

ADAPT – Anthropology, DNA, and the Appearance and Perception of Traits Study Ongoing

ADAPT – Anthropology, DNA, and the Appearance and Perception of Traits Study Ongoing
Ongoing Principal Investigators:
Mark Shriver, Jennifer Wagner, Arslan Zaidi, and Laurel Pearson

Small group of People

The ADAPT study has three major aims: One aim of this study is to improve our understanding of the evolution, and genetic, and environmental contributions to variation in human traits. To do so, this study focuses on superficial variation (visible traits, such as facial shape and skin color, or easily observable, such as strength and voice pitch) and on variation related to ancestry and sex. The second aim of this study is to improve our understanding of the perception of these traits and any social meaning given to these traits. The third aim of this study is to improve molecular photo-fitting techniques (in other words, to improve our ability to predict traits from genetic data for forensic and other uses).