Overview

This general introduction to contemporary biological (physical) anthropology presents balanced coverage of the major components of the field: genetics and evolutionary theory, human biological variation, primate biology and behaviour, and human evolution.

Full Product Details

Author:   John Relethford
Publisher:   McGraw-Hill Education - Europe
Imprint:   McGraw-Hill Professional
Edition:   6th edition
Dimensions:   Width: 20.10cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.953kg
ISBN:  

9780073105758

ISBN 10:   0073105759
Pages:   560
Publication Date:   16 March 2005
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Replaced By:   9780073405261
Format:   Book
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

Preface PART I: Evolutionary Background 1. Biological Anthropology and Evolution What is Anthropology? Special Topic: Biological Anthropologists at WorkScience and Evolution 2. Human Genetics Molecular Genetics Mendelian Genetics Mutations Special Topic: PCR and Ancient DNAGenetics and Behavior 3. Evolutionary Forces Population Genetics The Evolutionary Forces Special Topic: Tay-Sachs Disease: Genetic Drift or Natural Selection?4. The Origin and Evolution of Species The Birth and Death of Species Misconceptions about Evolution Special Topic: Science Fiction and OrthogenesisA Brief History of Life PART II: Human Biological Variation 5. The Study of Human Variation Measuring Human Variation Race and Human Variation Global Patterns of Human Genetic VariationSpecial Topic: Genetics, Race, and IQ6. Genetics, History, and AncestryThe Genetic History of PopulationsSpecial Topic: Kennewick ManThe Genetic History of IndividualsGenetic Ancestry and Cultural Identity7. Natural Selection in Human Populations Natural Selection and DiseaseSpecial Topic: ABO Maternal-Fetal Incompatibility and Natural SelectionNatural Selection and Skin ColorNatural Selection and Culture Change8. Human Adaptation Types of Adaptation Climate and Human Adaptation Special Topic: Cranial Plasticity—Did Boas Get it Right?High-Altitude Adaptation Nutritional Adaptation PART III: Our Place in Nature 9. Primates in Nature Taxonomic Classification Characteristics of Mammals Primate Characteristics Special Topic: What Will Happen to the Primates?Models of Primate Behavior 10. The Biology and Behavior of the Living Primates Primate Suborders The Monkeys The Hominoids The Living Apes Special Topic: Social Structure and Testes Size in Primates11. The Human Species Characteristics of Living Humans The Human Life Cycle Special Topic: Should Infants Sleep with Their Parents? An Evolutionary ViewIs Human Behavior Unique? 12. Primate Origins and Evolution The Study of the Fossil Record Early Primate Evolution Evolution of the Miocene Hominoids Special Topic: The Giant Ape PART IV: Human Evolution 13. Hominid Origins Overview of Human Evolution The First Hominids Evolutionary Trends Special Topic: The Piltdown Hoax14. The Origin and Evolution of the Genus Homo The Origin of the Genus HomoHomo erectus Archaic Humans Special Topic: Neandertals: Names and Images15. The Origin of Modern Humans Anatomically Modern Homo sapiens The Origin of Modern Humans Special Topic: The IcemanRecent Biological and Cultural Evolution in Homo sapiens 16. Human Biology and Culture Change The Biological Impact of Agriculture The Biological Impact of Civilization Recent Changes Special Topic: The Baby Boom Epilogue: The Future of Our Species Appendix 1: Mathematical Population Genetics Appendix 2: Classification of Living Primates Appendix 3: Conversion Factors Appendix 4: Comparative Primate Skeletal Anatomy GlossaryIndex

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Author Information

Dr. John Relethford holds the rank of Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the State University of New York College at Oneonta, and has received a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He received his BA (1975), MA (1978), and Ph.D. (1980) degrees in anthropology from the State University of New York at Albany. His textbook, The Human Species: An Introduction to Biological Anthropology, was first published in 1990, and is currently in the eighth edition. He has also written Genetics and the Search for Modern Human Origins and Reflections of Our Past: How Human History is Revealed in Our Genes, and is coauthor of Human Biological Variation. In addition, he has authored or coauthored over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, 18 book chapters, and numerous book reviews and other publications. He has served as both President and Vice-President of both the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and the American Association of Anthropological Genetics. He has served on the editorial boards of many journals, and is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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