Arthur Saniotis holds doctorates in the social and biological sciences. His research spans across several disciplines and has worked at tertiary institutions in Australia, Asia, Middle-East, Europe and Africa. He is currently lecturer in anatomy and Director of Research at DDT College of Medicine in Botswana. Phone: +267 75910162 Address: DDT College of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana
Anthropologie: International Journal of Human Diversity and Evolution , 2025
Research indicates that even short duration space flight may cause deficits to psychological heal... more Research indicates that even short duration space flight may cause deficits to psychological health. Crewed members of spaceflights are also vulnerable to various neurobehavioral problems, which may reduce psychological health, work efficiency and group cohesiveness. Mindfulness meditation as a psychological countermeasure for long-term space missions has received increasing attention. Mindfulness techniques have been shown to provide various cognitive and affective benefits in clinical settings, these have yet to be employed as a feasible psychological countermeasure for space crews. Therefore, this paper will propose that the use of mindfulness-based intervention may offer a feasible adjunct countermeasure for several psychological and performance risks for astronauts during long-term space missions.
Persistent truncus arteriosus (TA) is a congenital heart disorder that is characterized by variou... more Persistent truncus arteriosus (TA) is a congenital heart disorder that is characterized by various anomalies that can be fatal without corrective medical intervention. Surgical techniques were initially developed to correct this condition in infants, consequently, this has led to a paucity of scientific research on adults with TA. In this case study, the authors examine TA in the heart of an adult. The specimen derives from the pathology museum from the Vernon-Roberts Museum of The University of Adelaide. Given the rarity of individuals surviving with TA into adulthood, more scientific attention needs to be invested in unique people with TA in order to provide comprehensive understanding of this condition as well as adequate medical treatment and care.
Biotechnology has become one of the most powerful forces on the planet, since it is capable of al... more Biotechnology has become one of the most powerful forces on the planet, since it is capable of altering life processes at a molecular level. Since human bodies are dynamic biological systems, medicine requires to understand the evolutionary antecedents of Homo, especially in relation to neurohormonal regulation. Furthermore, increasing human dependence on biotechnology has led to relaxed natural selection in Homo, with subsequent increase of genetic load. In this paper, we speculate on the possible consequences of the application of parsimoniously derived biotechnologies onto the biological system of humans, with special attention to three areas: 1. human brain augmentation; 2. biotechnology and public health; 3. relaxed natural selection and genetic load. Human ability to manipulate and alter the structure and function of the body may not only make natural selection redundant but will be guided by a teleology whose purpose will seek to improve upon nature's design.
Greek mythology formed the basis of much of Greek philosophy, art and science. The Greeks concept... more Greek mythology formed the basis of much of Greek philosophy, art and science. The Greeks conceptualised their universe as animated by forces and elements which they anthropomorphised as gods and other supernatural beings. However, only recently has there been increasing attention on Greek mythology as a source of advanced technological and biomedical concepts. The Greek myths are fascinating for their technological ideas pertaining to body/cognitive enhancement. This paper provides theoretical correlations between Greek mythological and socio-historic dimensions of human enhancement, and some of their current/future technological developments, hence, offering a cultural anthropological perspective.
The global prevalence of breast cancer reflects a profound mismatch between the evolutionary adap... more The global prevalence of breast cancer reflects a profound mismatch between the evolutionary adaptations of ancestral humans and the modern lifestyle practices of contemporary society. This discrepancy is evident in the alteration of reproductive patterns and lifestyle factors, such as earlier onset of menarche, increased ovulatory cycles, shorter lactation periods, late menopause, nulliparity, decreased physical activity levels, higher adiposity, and consumption of processed foods. These modern influences have led to unprecedented levels of estrogen exposure in women, contributing to breast cancer risk. Comparisons between traditional and modern women underscore the significant increase in menstrual cycles and reproductive cancers in the latter group. This evolutionary mismatch, characterized by changes in reproductive and lifestyle factors, poses a significant risk for the development of breast cancer in modern women.
In this article we seek to integrate theories of music origins and dance with hominin fossil anat... more In this article we seek to integrate theories of music origins and dance with hominin fossil anatomy and the paleoecological contexts of hominin evolution. Based on the association between rhythm in music, dance and locomotion, we propose that early bipedal hominins may have evolved neurobiological substrates different from other great apes due to the rhythmic aspects of bipedal walking and running. Combined with the emancipation of the hands resulting from erect posture, we propose that the neurobiological changes necessary for technological innovation, cultural practices and human musical abilities may have evolved, at least in incipient form, much earlier than previously thought. The consequent ability to synchronize movement and sound production may have also proved beneficial as early bipedal hominins ventured out of late Miocene and early Pliocene woodland and forested habitats and into more open habitats with increased predation risk. We also postulate that, along with bipedalism, paedomorphic morphogenesis of the skull at the base of the hominin clade was a necessary prerequisite for the evolution of vocal modulation and singing in later varieties of hominin. To date research into the evolution of music and dance has yet to be integrated with the fossil and paleoecological evidence of early hominin evolution. This paper seeks to fill this lacuna in the extant literature on human evolution. We also suggest that autocatalytic feedback loops evolving synergistically with hominin erect posture, skull and hand morphology, neurochemical processes and the self-domestication syndrome, have been operative from early hominins some 6 Ma to the present. We document this process by reference to primatological, ethnographic, neurochemical and archaeological data.
The Australian Journal of Anthropology, Apr 1, 2008
... Sufis like Shams would usually go to multiple spiritual places within the Nizamuddin shrine c... more ... Sufis like Shams would usually go to multiple spiritual places within the Nizamuddin shrine complex and repeat similar patterns of sacred words, staying at each spiritual place ... These include Muhammad Shah (1 702-1 748), Jahanara Begum (1 6 14-168 1 ) and Mirza Jahangir. ...
Anthropologie: International Journal of Human Diversity and Evolution , 2025
Research indicates that even short duration space flight may cause deficits to psychological heal... more Research indicates that even short duration space flight may cause deficits to psychological health. Crewed members of spaceflights are also vulnerable to various neurobehavioral problems, which may reduce psychological health, work efficiency and group cohesiveness. Mindfulness meditation as a psychological countermeasure for long-term space missions has received increasing attention. Mindfulness techniques have been shown to provide various cognitive and affective benefits in clinical settings, these have yet to be employed as a feasible psychological countermeasure for space crews. Therefore, this paper will propose that the use of mindfulness-based intervention may offer a feasible adjunct countermeasure for several psychological and performance risks for astronauts during long-term space missions.
Persistent truncus arteriosus (TA) is a congenital heart disorder that is characterized by variou... more Persistent truncus arteriosus (TA) is a congenital heart disorder that is characterized by various anomalies that can be fatal without corrective medical intervention. Surgical techniques were initially developed to correct this condition in infants, consequently, this has led to a paucity of scientific research on adults with TA. In this case study, the authors examine TA in the heart of an adult. The specimen derives from the pathology museum from the Vernon-Roberts Museum of The University of Adelaide. Given the rarity of individuals surviving with TA into adulthood, more scientific attention needs to be invested in unique people with TA in order to provide comprehensive understanding of this condition as well as adequate medical treatment and care.
Biotechnology has become one of the most powerful forces on the planet, since it is capable of al... more Biotechnology has become one of the most powerful forces on the planet, since it is capable of altering life processes at a molecular level. Since human bodies are dynamic biological systems, medicine requires to understand the evolutionary antecedents of Homo, especially in relation to neurohormonal regulation. Furthermore, increasing human dependence on biotechnology has led to relaxed natural selection in Homo, with subsequent increase of genetic load. In this paper, we speculate on the possible consequences of the application of parsimoniously derived biotechnologies onto the biological system of humans, with special attention to three areas: 1. human brain augmentation; 2. biotechnology and public health; 3. relaxed natural selection and genetic load. Human ability to manipulate and alter the structure and function of the body may not only make natural selection redundant but will be guided by a teleology whose purpose will seek to improve upon nature's design.
Greek mythology formed the basis of much of Greek philosophy, art and science. The Greeks concept... more Greek mythology formed the basis of much of Greek philosophy, art and science. The Greeks conceptualised their universe as animated by forces and elements which they anthropomorphised as gods and other supernatural beings. However, only recently has there been increasing attention on Greek mythology as a source of advanced technological and biomedical concepts. The Greek myths are fascinating for their technological ideas pertaining to body/cognitive enhancement. This paper provides theoretical correlations between Greek mythological and socio-historic dimensions of human enhancement, and some of their current/future technological developments, hence, offering a cultural anthropological perspective.
The global prevalence of breast cancer reflects a profound mismatch between the evolutionary adap... more The global prevalence of breast cancer reflects a profound mismatch between the evolutionary adaptations of ancestral humans and the modern lifestyle practices of contemporary society. This discrepancy is evident in the alteration of reproductive patterns and lifestyle factors, such as earlier onset of menarche, increased ovulatory cycles, shorter lactation periods, late menopause, nulliparity, decreased physical activity levels, higher adiposity, and consumption of processed foods. These modern influences have led to unprecedented levels of estrogen exposure in women, contributing to breast cancer risk. Comparisons between traditional and modern women underscore the significant increase in menstrual cycles and reproductive cancers in the latter group. This evolutionary mismatch, characterized by changes in reproductive and lifestyle factors, poses a significant risk for the development of breast cancer in modern women.
In this article we seek to integrate theories of music origins and dance with hominin fossil anat... more In this article we seek to integrate theories of music origins and dance with hominin fossil anatomy and the paleoecological contexts of hominin evolution. Based on the association between rhythm in music, dance and locomotion, we propose that early bipedal hominins may have evolved neurobiological substrates different from other great apes due to the rhythmic aspects of bipedal walking and running. Combined with the emancipation of the hands resulting from erect posture, we propose that the neurobiological changes necessary for technological innovation, cultural practices and human musical abilities may have evolved, at least in incipient form, much earlier than previously thought. The consequent ability to synchronize movement and sound production may have also proved beneficial as early bipedal hominins ventured out of late Miocene and early Pliocene woodland and forested habitats and into more open habitats with increased predation risk. We also postulate that, along with bipedalism, paedomorphic morphogenesis of the skull at the base of the hominin clade was a necessary prerequisite for the evolution of vocal modulation and singing in later varieties of hominin. To date research into the evolution of music and dance has yet to be integrated with the fossil and paleoecological evidence of early hominin evolution. This paper seeks to fill this lacuna in the extant literature on human evolution. We also suggest that autocatalytic feedback loops evolving synergistically with hominin erect posture, skull and hand morphology, neurochemical processes and the self-domestication syndrome, have been operative from early hominins some 6 Ma to the present. We document this process by reference to primatological, ethnographic, neurochemical and archaeological data.
The Australian Journal of Anthropology, Apr 1, 2008
... Sufis like Shams would usually go to multiple spiritual places within the Nizamuddin shrine c... more ... Sufis like Shams would usually go to multiple spiritual places within the Nizamuddin shrine complex and repeat similar patterns of sacred words, staying at each spiritual place ... These include Muhammad Shah (1 702-1 748), Jahanara Begum (1 6 14-168 1 ) and Mirza Jahangir. ...
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Papers by Arthur Saniotis