Human biological diversity

Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
List of figures
List of tables
Profiles
Preface
1 Introduction
	A brief history of evolutionary ideas
	The organization of the book
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
2 Background: concepts of evolution and genetics
	Introduction
	Genetics and microevolution
	The chemical basis of life
	Genetics
	Microevolution
	The synthetic theory of evolution
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
3 Molecular genetics, genomics, and human genetics
	A closer look at chromosomes
	Extrachromosomal genetics
	Tracing genetic variability and function
	Human genetics and the human genome
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
4 Macroevolution and taxonomy
	Taxonomy
	Macroevolution
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
5 Race and human variation
	Race
	Phenotypic characteristics of human variability
	“Race” and intelligence
	Patterns of human variability
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
6 Human biological variation in the skeleton and dentition: a window on the past
	Introduction to skeletal biology
	Paleodemography
	Individual and population differences in the skeleton
	Trace elements in bony tissue
	Forensic anthropology
	Paleopathology
	Ethical concerns
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
7 Genotypic traits
	Genotypic traits traditionally used in human biology
	Genetic traits from contemporary molecular biology used in human biology
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
8 Tracing human population affinities and migrations
	Tracing the origins of modern Homo sapiens
	Tracing the movements of modern Homo sapiens
	Conclusion
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
9 Demography: populations, reproduction, and mortality
	Population ecology
	Demography of human populations
	Human population growth
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
10 Life span: growth and development
	The general pattern of human growth
	Growth of specific body parts
	Growth after birth: population differences
	Growth and development: a final consideration
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
11 Life span: aging and senescence
	The biology of senescence
	Theories of senescence
	The human population biology of senescence
	Can we “cure” senescence?
	Conclusion
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
12 Human adaptability to physical stressors
	Limiting factors, tolerance, and environmental physiology
	Adaptation to cold and heat
	Adaptation to high altitude
	High activity levels
	Conclusion
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
13 Human adaptability to biological stressors
	Malnutrition
	Protein­calorie malnutrition
	Micronutrient deficiencies
	Overnutrition and conclusion
	Infectious disease
	The impact of biological stressors on human biology
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
14 Human biology in the modern world
	General stress
	Adiposity and obesity: are we eating ourselves to death?
	Pollution: the fouling of the environment
	Possible reduced selective forces
	Conclusion
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
15 Human biological variation: a look to the future and some final thoughts on ethics
	Human biology in the future
	Final thoughts on the ethics of human biology research
	What is normal?
	Chapter summary
	Chapter discussion
Glossary
Index