Prelude to the Case
When did hominins lose their body hair, and when did they begin wearing clothing? This case takes a novel approach to answering these questions by examining the surprising phylogeny of human head, body, and pubic lice. Students are led through the scientific process as they are asked to think about hypotheses, predictions, results, and conclusions. Clicker response systems are used to involve students in the process and to generate small group discussion. The case illustrates another important aspect of the scientific process: sometimes studies provide relevant data that don’t provide definitive answers. Recent phylogenetic research on ape lice has provided some interesting data, but the questions remain unanswered at present. The case integrates topics including phylogeny, speciation, and hominin evolution.
The case study is presented in class via PowerPoint, with multiple-choice questions sprinkled throughout the “lecture.” Students are expected to answer the questions as they arise using their clickers. The use of clickers in combination with case studies is described in greater detail in the article “Clicker” Cases: Introducing Case Study Teaching Into Large Classrooms.
Date Posted: October 29, 2009.
Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/three_lice/prelude.asp
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