Physical anthropology is the branch of anthropology that studies humans as biological beings, including human evolution, variation, genetics, and our relationship to other primates. It is also commonly called biological anthropology.

What it covers

  • Human origins and evolution.
  • Human biological variation, past and present.
  • Primates and human relatives.
  • Genetics, growth, adaptation, and sometimes disease patterns.

Why it matters

This field helps explain how humans changed over time and how biology interacts with environment and behavior. It also supports work in areas like forensic science, primatology, and studying ancient fossils.

Simple example

A physical anthropologist might examine a fossil skull to learn about early human evolution, or study DNA to understand how different populations adapted to different environments.

TL;DR: physical anthropology = the study of humans from a biological and evolutionary perspective.