Human variation: The major unifying theme of biological anthropology

Nothing in biological anthropology makes sense in the absence of a proper understanding of human variation. The study of variation has been and remains, therefore, the core, unifying theme of this scientific discipline. Moreover, it provides a fundamental link with the theory of evolution; given the central role that variation plays in our understanding of evolution and the core place of this theory in modern biological science. This chapter provides a brief overview of some major historical aspects of =race' research in biological anthropology. It also examines the importance of human variation to contemporary research in biological anthropology, providing an example provided from palaeoanthropology. I also explore briefly the role of variation as a basis for equipping (pedagogically) students for an increasingly inter-connected, multicultural and ethically engaged community, a planet facing major challenges such as anthropogenic climate change, and emerging fields in the morphological and molecular sciences. Finally, I propose that the study of variation and diversity provides opportunities for educators to meet the new phase of university teaching with its emphasis on generic attributes.