Department of Anthropology

Director: Ed Hagen

The bioanthropology lab investigates biomarkers related to drug use, immune function, and life histories. These include drug metabolites, such a cotinine, a metabolite of nicotine; immunoglobulin E (IgE), a class of antibodies that are important in immune responses to macroparasites, such as intestinal worms; testosterone, which plays an important role in development and is an immunomodulator; and cortisol, which plays an important role in stress responses, and is also an immunomodulator.