Human biology encompasses the central branches of the lifesciences (anatomy, physiology, genetics, and biochemistry) as the basis for comparative, evolutionary, and cross-cultural studies of human populations. Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective reviews evolutionary, cultural, ecological, and genetic perspectives, and thenexplains how these data are used to reconstruct theories of human population, human adaptation to climate, infectious diseases, and food availability. World-renowned authors examine the human life span, including aging and the influence of biological and behavioral factors on growth variation. Although human biology relies heavily upon an evolutionary perspective to explain variation through space and time, it also regards the effect that human culture has had on our biology as crucial. This comprehensive introduction to the field of human biology covers genetic variation, variation related to climate, infectious and noninfectious diseases, growth, and demography. In addition, Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective is designed to maximize reader-friendliness, with glossary terms highlighted within the text and chapter summaries. Human Biology also includes:Boxed text within the chapters, which clearly explains the methodology used by fieldworkers, laboratory researchers, and statisticians Numerous illustrations, summaries, key references, and a thorough glossaryThis extensive guide to human biology is an essential resource for all professionals and academics in the fields of human biology, genetics, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and population biology.
"Members of the Human Biology Associate team up to provide an introduction to the field for graduate and advanced undergraduate students and other scholars with an interest in the human sciences." (SciTech Book News, December 2000) "I recommend Human Biology for use in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses and certainly see it as a welcome addition to my library." (American Journal of Human Biology, Vol. 13, No .6, November/December 2001)