
Human Population Biology
A Transdisciplinary Science
Oxford University Press
Published on 17. August 1989
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-0-19-505016-5 (ISBN)
Description
Human Population Biology is a careful integration of the social and biological sciences, drawing on anthropology, biology, human ecology and medicine to provide a comprehensive understanding of how our species adapts to natural and man-made environments. The book's chapters fall into five parts. In Part I, techniques to adapt and apply large-scale demographic methods to smaller populations, particularly important for studying non-Western populations, are presented. In Part II, the relationship of medical genetics to human adaptability and patterns of disease epidemiology in small, non-Western populations are discussed. In Part III work capacity, climatic stress and nutrition are covered. In Part IV methods for growth assessment and prediction are presented and ageing is addressed. The final section, Part V, presents integrated case studies of human adaptation to high altitude, and patterns of modernization and stress resulting from cultural change.
Reviews / Votes
"A thoroughly professional book, not necessarily easy reading because of the breadth of technical materials covered, but deserves study by any anthropologist interested in the biological process in contemporary human populations; it will also be mined for ideas by a much wider audience of human biologists." --The Quarterly Review of Biology"Characterized by a unity in outlook and approach rarely, if ever, found in multi-authored volume. . . .Interesting and well-written." --Population Studies
"The breadth of coverage of the chapters, the chapter bibliographies, and the emphasis on directions for future research make this volume a necessary addition to the bookshelf of any anthropologist or nonanthropologist interested in biocultural aspects of our own species. In addition, I think it will find a niche in upper-level courses or seminars dealing with the subject of human adaptation, whether they are taught in anthropology, physiology, nutrition,
ecology, demography, or medical science departments. . . .Stands as a testament to Baker's vision and his teaching." --American Journal of Human Biology
"A thoroughly professional book, not necessarily easy reading because of the breadth of technical materials covered, but deserves study by any anthropologist interested in the biological process in contemporary human populations; it will also be mined for ideas by a much wider audience of human biologists." --The Quarterly Review of Biology
"Characterized by a unity in outlook and approach rarely, if ever, found in multi-authored volume. . . .Interesting and well-written." --Population Studies
"The breadth of coverage of the chapters, the chapter bibliographies, and the emphasis on directions for future research make this volume a necessary addition to the bookshelf of any anthropologist or nonanthropologist interested in biocultural aspects of our own species. In addition, I think it will find a niche in upper-level courses or seminars dealing with the subject of human adaptation, whether they are taught in anthropology, physiology, nutrition,
ecology, demography, or medical science departments. . . .Stands as a testament to Baker's vision and his teaching." --American Journal of Human Biology
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
halftones and line illustrations throughout
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
729 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-505016-5 (9780195050165)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Editor
Professor of AnthropologyProfessor of Anthropology, State University of New York at Binghamton
Associate Professor of NutritionAssociate Professor of Nutrition, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Content
Michael A. Little & Jere D. Haas: Human population biology and the concept of transdisciplinarity; Paul W. Leslie & Timothy B. Gage: Demography and human population biology: problems and progress; Timothy B. Gage, John M. McCullough, Charles A. Weitz, James Dutt & Andrew Abelson: Demographic studies and human population biology; Charles Hoff, Ralph M. Garruto & Norris Durham: Human adaptability and medical genetics; Ralph M. Garruto, Anthony B. Way, Shelley Zansky & Charles Hoff: Natural experimental models in human biology, epidemiology and clinical medicine; Charles A. Weitz, Lawrence P. Greksa, R. Brooke Thomas & Cynthia M. Beall: An anthropological perspective on the study of work capacity; Joel M. Hanna, Michael A. Little & Donald M. Austin: Climatic physiology; Jere D. Haas & David L. Pelletier: Nutrition and human population biology; Ivan G. Pawson, C. Carol Ballew & James R. Bindon: New perspectives and directions in human biology and growth; Cynthia M. Beall & Charles A. Weitz: The human population biology of ageing; A. Roberto Frisancho & Lawrence P. Greksa: Developmental responses in the acquisition of functional adaptation to high altitude; Lawrence P. Greksa & Cynthia M. Beall: Development of chest size and lung function at high altitude; C. Carol Ballew, Ralph M. Garruto & Jere D. Haas: High-altitude hematology: paradigm or enigma?; Stephen T. McGarvey, James R. Bindon, Douglas E. Crews & Diana Schendel: Modernization and adiposity: causes and consequences; Gary D. James, Douglas E. Crews & Jay Pearson: Catecholamines and stress; R. Brooke Thomas, Timothy B. Cage & Michael A. Little: Reflections on adaptive and ecological models.