Biological anthropology is the ‘study of
humans as biological organisms’ (Stanford, Allen & Antón,
2006:16). Our evolution, variation and how our biology affects our behaviour in
society are some of the main focuses studied. The human hand when subjected to
such approaches offers great insight into the perspectives of biological
anthropology and provides much evidence for our cultural interactions today. To
further our understanding of what the modern hand of Homo sapiens can tell us
about ourselves, a comparative approach will be used where appropriate in
exploring both its micro- and macroevolution and its associated biocultural interactions.
           Microevolution
is the study of ‘evolutionary phenomena that occur within a species’ (Stanford
et al., 2006:137). The human hand exhibits numerous differences when explored
using this approach. By comparing the hands of Homo sapiens we can see great
diversity in skin pigmentation. There are obvious phenotypic variations which
can even be used to distinguish between cultures. Skin colour is not only
affected by a polygenic inheritance, but by environmental influences such as
different levels of exposure to ultraviolet rays (Barsh,
2003). At a histological level of analysis, we are able to find evidence for
skin pigmentation through cellular processes. Organelles called melanosomes, which contain the light-absorbing pigment
melanin, are considerably larger and more numerous in a darker skin compared to
that of a lighter skin (Toda, Pathak, Parrish,
Fitzpatrick & Quevedo, 1972). These differences
in skin pigmentation allow biological anthropologists to forumulate
ideas that correspond to our evolutionary history. Melanin is used as a defence
mechanism against the harsh ....
