Introduction and Rationale

Humans are not only the product of a long evolutionary process but are also continuously evolving [1, 2]. We therefore show variation of anatomical structures and physiological processes, as well as disease patterns and prevalences (Fig. 1). Intergenerational changes of human anatomy and pathology have been frequently reported and are of foremost interest (e.g., for surgeons). Significant changes in morphological characteristics include the following: decrease in the robusticity of the musculoskeletal apparatus (gracilization) [3–5], weight and height [6], microcranialization and brachycephalization (reduction in braincase size and change of its shape) [7–9], reductions in the size and number of teeth [10], spinal morphology alterations [11, 12], changing frequencies of tarsal coalitions [13], increase of the frequency of some arteries (median) [14], and decrease of others (thyroidea ima) [15]. These alterations are all likely to be at least partially the result of structural reductions in response to technology diminishing the need for the use of physical strength. Aside from genetic changes, they therefore may also occur from epigenetic alterations due to differing environmental pressures such as a reduction of chewing effort in the processing of food, leading to reduction in jaw size [16, 17]. Moreover, the ubiquitous low-back problems of modern humans, shoulder impingement, hip and knee osteoarthritis, and other musculoskeletal diseases are often attributed to anatomical variants inherited from our early hominin ancestors as trade-offs to the evolution of bipedal locomotion [18–25]. However, the degree of variability of human morphology is often neglected in traditional medical curricula. These facts require the introduction of concepts of long- and short-term evolution into medical curricula.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Interactions of humans, environment, and medical technology as addressed by evolutionary medicine

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Evolutionary Medicine Curricula

The call for the incorporation of evolutionary topics into the modern biomedical curriculum has been raised for more than 10 years [26]. However, no specific large, medically oriented evolutionary medicine (EM) research unit existed until 2010 [27–29]. Since then, the number of top universities offering EM-related teaching is steadily increasing [27, 29]. Thus, the full biomedical academic potential of EM is still largely untapped, especially when it comes to evidence-based applications. In terms of practicality, the inclusion of a so-called clinical anatomy skills lab into an EM research center—where clinicians train and experiment, e.g., on human morphological variability in close collaboration with anatomists in the dissection room—may provide an appropriate launching place for EM studies on such human morphological microevolution.

A plethora of EM-related topics to be taught in medical schools could be named (Table 1). These combine, e.g., themes of clinical medicine, basic research such as genetics, human biology, physical and social anthropology, and archeology. The benefit of such evolutionary-based academic education has been laid out recently by a consensus paper, which highlighted the rationale for such teaching, the learning objectives for both—premedical and medical competencies—as well as the general integrative power of EM teaching [30]. Furthermore, it is apparently feasible to acquire third party funding for this particular field of research [29], thus combining graduate and postgraduate teaching and research of EM within state-of-the-art academic facilities (such as the abovementioned clinical anatomy skills lab). On a larger scale, this could result in worldwide collaborations and implementation in leading health science schools around the globe.

Table 1 Selection of lecture and seminar topics from our courses of evolutionary medicine
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The Modules: Aims and Outline

Here, we present three novel courses held between autumn 2012 and spring 2015 that embed the teaching of secular trends in the human body and pathology: (1) a full semester undergraduate course on evolution and health introduced in 2012 at the University of Adelaide as an elective for medical students, and a senior (level III) course for health sciences students; (2) an intensive master-level postgraduate “block course” for science students introduced at the University of Zurich in 2013, the first tertiary level full course in evolutionary medicine to be taught in Switzerland; and (3) an elective course for medical undergraduate students introduced in 2014 at the University of Zurich.

Based on our own original data of temporal changes in human body structures—e.g., the prevalence of additional arteries or of spina bifida occulta, and palaeopathological observations—such topics are addressed both in a classical lecture format and in interactive practicals and seminars co-run by students.

The first module at the University of Adelaide has a maximum of 50 students quota and consists of 4 h of contact per week for 12 weeks. However, students are expected to spend about at least another 4 h per week on researching for their written tasks that comprise the assessment. In the past, some students have reported spending more than this amount of time on research and reading and writing. Thus, 4 h would be the minimum time required. The course is offered every year and comprises lectures, seminars, discussion, and self-directed learning activities. Selected course learning objectives are listed in Table 2.

Table 2 Course learning objectives Adelaide
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The second module, the block course at the University of Zurich, is available to graduates of the 3-year degree (license = BSc) who are registered for a Master of Biology degree. It is limited to 20 students only to provide an opportunity for small group work and development of individual interests. It is run over 4 weeks (3.5 days per week) and consists of 34 h of lectures and 39 h of seminars as well as practicals in osteology, bone pathology, imaging techniques, ancient DNA analysis, and analysis of large health-related datasets. The main objectives of the block course are listed in Table 3.

Table 3 Selected course learning objectives Zurich
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The third module is available to medical undergraduate and first year medical Master students of the University of Zurich (i.e., second to fourth year medical students). During these three years, the students have to choose 6 different modules among about 35 modules offered in total. The module in evolutionary medicine consists of 7 half days (4 h each) and is offered every semester, with a maximum of 15 students. The structure of the course and the learning objectives are similar to those of the block course, although the seminars and practicals are less extensive.

Common to all three courses is that they require student-directed learning. That is, students must take responsibility in shaping the focus of their work and in formulating arguments within that work. Lectures and seminars, both with interactive discussion, are principal learning and teaching modes. Since the courses attempt to integrate knowledge of a number of disciplines, active student participation in lectures and seminars is required. Lectures integrate knowledge already possessed by students with new approaches to its interpretation as well as to supplement knowledge where it is found to be missing. Seminars are fully interactive discussions focusing on specific topics, but allowing branching out into topics identified as important during discussions.

Each student has to prepare an oral presentation to start a seminar discussion. In addition, in the Adelaide course, each student has to write an essay on the topic chosen jointly by a student and a course coordinator so that student interests are provided for while the topic fits into the broader scope of course knowledge. The Adelaide course has a strong focus on formative feedback.

All three courses are interdisciplinary and comprise materials delivered by lecturers from different disciplines, and also, the classes include students from different background. The courses encourage students to think, debate, and challenge taken-for-granted ideas about health care.

Assessment of the Courses

Assessment of the Adelaide course is based on the following five principles: (1) assessment must encourage and reinforce learning; (2) assessment must measure achievement of the stated learning objectives; (3) assessment must enable robust and fair judgments about student performance; (4) assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned; and (5) assessment must maintain academic standards. An assessment summary is provided in Table 4.

Table 4 Assessment summary of the Adelaide course
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The block course at the University of Zurich (i.e., second module) is assessed exclusively by a final exam as this is viewed as the most objective assessment method that is best verifiable and resistant against appeals. The third module aimed at medical undergraduate students of the University of Zurich is not given marks. To pass, the students have to give an oral presentation, attend the full course, and participate actively.

At the end of the courses, the students were asked to anonymously review the course. Survey questions are listed in Tables 5 and 6 for the courses at the University of Adelaide and Zurich, respectively.

Table 5 Survey questions at the University of Adelaide course
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Table 6 Survey questions at the University of Zurich courses
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Results

Participation in the anonymous survey at the University of Adelaide was 11 of 17 enrolled students in the 2012 course, 13 of 19 in 2013, and 13 of 20 in 2014. Over the last 2 years, 82 % of the University of Adelaide students assessed the overall quality of the course on a seven-score scale as very good to excellent (Table 5). Specifically, they assessed that the course uses appropriate strategies to engage them in their learning (mean 6.3 out of 7 points), and it helps them to develop their thinking skills (mean 6.3 out of 7 points). Students’ comments on what are the best aspects of the undergraduate Adelaide course are as follows:

  • Learning new ideas and things from a new perspective.

  • Content in itself was extremely rewarding.

  • Broad range of topics, which is very interesting.

  • Covers all issues of evolution and stimulates students’ critical thinking.

  • It is a new course and covers areas of science that have been mentioned in other subjects but in a different way of thinking about them.

  • It encourages thinking widely about issues relating to health and evolution.

The overall return rate of the anonymous survey of the block course for biology students at the University of Zurich was 98 %. The students assessed the overall quality of the course on a five-score scale as follows: 57 % of students in 2013 and 26 % in 2014 stated that they are very satisfied, whereas the remainder (43 and 68 %, respectively) stated that they were satisfied (with only one student in 2014 (5 %) being neutral and none unsatisfied). In the module for University of Zurich medical students, the participation rate in the survey was 90 %. The high degree of overall satisfaction with the course was similar to that of the biology students at the University of Zurich (29 and 62 % were very satisfied in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and 64 and 38 %, respectively, were satisfied, with one of the 2014 students (7 %) being neutral). Comments on what are the best aspects of the postgraduate Zurich course are as follows:

  • The insights of the development and the epidemics of disease are very helpful for biologists.

  • Covers a wide range of research fields such as medicine, genetics, anthropology, and even history and ethics, which makes it very diverse and interesting.

  • Small group work with specialists. Lots of teachers giving new perspectives.

  • Good practicals giving access to actual specimens of bone pathologies and ancient DNA analysis.

  • The course stimulates critical thinking.

Discussion and Outlook

The presented courses obviously meet a growing need, and they were positively received by the students. The format of the courses seems to be appropriate yet minor organizational and content changes based on actual evaluation may also happen in the future. Most importantly, the actual courses seem to stimulate critical thinking about issues relating to health and evolution. Another significant outcome measure is the direct involvement of students into full research activities, which already resulted in various publications [31–36]. Last but not least, the courses lead to a growing number of Bachelor, Master, and PhD students at the involved institutes.

More universally, the benefit of evolutionary-based academic education has been laid out only recently by a consensus paper, which highlighted the rationale for such teaching, the learning objectives for both—premedical and medical competencies—as well as the general integrative power of EM teaching [30]. The incorporation of principles of human evolution and its forces for future medical practitioners is thus needed, since an understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of the human body will be able to optimize medical therapies and public health policies. Presently, the number of universities offering EM related teaching is steadily increasing [27, 29]. The courses offered in EM at the Universities of Zurich and Adelaide are well received by students. A plethora of intergenerational change-related topics to be taught in medical schools could be named by the students (see above). They could combine elements of clinical medicine, public health, medical basic science research, human biology, physical and social anthropology, economic history, and even archeology.

A fundamental issue arising from this understanding is the biocultural interactions that expedite human vulnerability to disease. For example, modern humans are being increasingly outmaneuvered by resistant bacterial strains and arthropod vectors. This needs to be quickly addressed since modern living (cultural behaviors) facilitates the spread and transmission of resistant pathogens due to novel environments such as global travels. Another biocultural interactions leading to morphological dysfunction are human made environmental contaminants, which may potentially reduce male reproductive health with consequential declining fertility [37–40]. A third major problem of biocultural interaction and morphological transition based on individual genetic endowments is the current pandemic of overweight and obesity in many countries. Several thinkers in EM have referred to this pandemic as a classical “mismatch” or “discordance” between biological evolution and cultural change [41–43].

A general practitioner may not directly heal a patient using only evolutionary medicine principles, but without a little knowledge of the evolutionary dynamics of the human body he/she certainly will not be able to provide the best, individualized diagnosis, medico-social advice, and prescribe optimal personal treatment [44].

Conclusion

At this time, researchers and teachers in EM need to encourage medical and health science professionals to explore the evolutionary principles that inform human health and disease. The approach should be multifactorial, using latest research in EM, as well as wider media exposure, in order to inform the scientific community and the general public. Antolin et al. [40] endorse a “big picture” approach to teaching EM via the inclusion of reference frameworks for improving information transfer and student retention. Moreover, students may become more interested in evolutionary concepts by embedding them in sociocultural behaviors. Current public interest in future human evolution is a growing area of EM by which it can engender ideas for medical and public health interventions. The expansion of EM in research and pedagogical areas is crucial due to ongoing human microevolution, which may present unknown challenges to future humans.

Detailed Curricula

The Adelaide course was run for the third time in late 2014, the Zurich courses for medical and science students are run for the fifth and third time, respectively, by spring 2016. To meet the high demand, they will be offered twice a year starting from 2015. Curricula are evolving in response to teachers and students suggestions. Full curricula and detailed course descriptions are available from the authors upon request.

Authors’ Contribution

Frank Rühli, MD, PhD, is a Professor of Anatomy and the founder and director of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich. He has wide anatomy teaching experience both in Europe and Australia.

Martin Haeusler, PhD, MD, is head of the morphology group at the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine and senior lecturer at the Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich. He has 12 years experience in teaching.

Arthur Saniotis, PhD is a Research Fellow at the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. He has 18 years experience teaching at several universities in Australia and in Asia.

Maciej Henneberg, PhD, DSc, is a Wood Jones Professor of Anatomy at the University of Adelaide. He is also an International Fellow of the UBVO at Oxford University. For the last 41 years he has taught at universities in the USA, UK, South Africa, and Poland.