biocultural

Biocultural is an interdisciplinary term that describes the interdependent relationship between biological and cultural factors in shaping human biology, behavior, health, and the environment. In anthropology and related fields, biocultural approaches examine how cultural practices influence biological processes, and how biology, in turn, constrains or enables cultural variation. This perspective integrates genetics, physiology, development, nutrition, health, ecology, and social organization, emphasizing that biology and culture are not separate domains but co-constructive.

Biocultural analyses explore topics such as diet and nutrition, reproduction and family structure, disease susceptibility, and responses to environmental stress, illustrating bidirectional influences. For example, lactose tolerance in some populations is linked to dairy pastoralism and selection for lactase persistence; variations in malaria vulnerability relate to genetic traits shaped by historical exposure; altitude adaptation involves physiological changes shaped by long-standing highland cultures; the human gut microbiome is influenced by dietary practices and food processing.

The term also underpins the concept of biocultural diversity, which recognizes that biological diversity and cultural diversity are linked through ecosystems, languages, knowledge systems, and practices. Protecting biocultural heritage involves safeguarding both biodiversity and traditional knowledge and languages.

Applications span medicine, public health, conservation, and development policy, guiding holistic strategies that respect local knowledge while addressing health and environmental challenges. Critics caution that biocultural approaches must avoid determinism and ensure clear methodological integration across disciplines.