Final answer:
Biological anthropology is the study of human evolution, variation, and adaptation through an understanding of the human genome and employment of evolutionary theory, particularly natural selection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of human evolution, variation, and adaptation is known as biological anthropology. This scientific field combines aspects of the human biology, which includes anatomy, physiology, genetics, and ecology, with the evolutionary history of the human species. Biological anthropologists explore how humans have adapted to different environments, why we vary biologically, and how our ancient ancestors lived and evolved. Central to this discipline is evolutionary theory, which was greatly influenced by Charles Darwin's concept of natural selection, a fundamental mechanism of evolution stating that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to a change in genetic makeup over generations. Key to understanding the human condition, biological anthropology encapsulates the human genome, examining the DNA that constitutes the hereditary material in humans. It reflects on how these inheritable traits have been influenced and altered through time due to environmental pressures, resulting in the broad variability we observe in modern humans.