Description
Preface To the Reader 1 Biological Anthropology In the Field: Doing Biological Anthropology Among the Hutterites A Hawaiian in Connecticut What Is Biological Anthropology? Defining Anthropology The Specialties of Bioanthropology Bioanthropology and Science The Scientific Method Some Common Misconceptions about Science Science Is Conducted in a Cultural Context Contemporary Reflections: Is Evolution a Fact, a Theory, or Just a Hypothesis? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 2 The Evolution of Evolution “On the Shoulders of Giants”: Explaining the Changing Earth The Biblical Context The Framework of “Natural Philosophy” “Common Sense at Its Best”: Explaining Biological Change Darwin’s Predecessors Charles Darwin The Modern Theory of Evolution Contemporary Reflections: Has Science Dehumanized Society? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 3 Evolutionary Genetics How Genes Work An Overview of the Human Genome From Genes to Traits How Inheritance Works Contemporary Reflections: What is Genetic Cloning? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 4 The Processes of Evolution Species: The Units of Evolution The Four Processes of Evolution Mutations: Necessary Errors Natural Selection: The Prime Mover of Evolution Gene Flow: Mixing Populations’ Genes Genetic Drift: Random Evolution Sickle Cell Anemia: Evolutionary Processes in Action Genetics and Symptoms Contemporary Reflections: Are Humans Still Evolving? The Adaptive Explanation Other Relationships Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 5 The Origin of Species and the Shape of Evolution New Species Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms Processes of Speciation The Evolution of Life’s Diversity Our Family Tree Adaptive Radiation The Grand Pattern of Evolution The Pattern of Speciation Species Selection Catastrophic Mass Extinctions Contemporary Reflections: Are There Alternatives to Evolution? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 6 A Brief Evolutionary Timetable From the Beginning: A Quick History Drifting Continents and Mass Extinctions: The Pace of Change Contemporary Reflections: Are Mass Extinctions a Thing of the Past? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 7 The Primates Naming the Animals What Is a Primate? The Senses Movement Reproduction Intelligence Behavior Patterns The Primate Adaptive Strategy A Survey of the Living Primates Prosimians Anthropoids The Human Primate The Senses Movement Reproduction Contemporary Reflections: What Is the Status of Our Closest Relatives? Intelligence Behavior Patterns Are We Hominids or Hominins? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 8 Primate Behavior and Human Evolution Behavioral Evolution How Do Complex Behaviors Evolve? How Do We Study Behavior? Primate Behavior Baboons Chimpanzees Bonobos Culture and Social Cognition Contemporary Reflections: Are Some Human Behaviors Genetic? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 9 Studying the Human Past Bones: The Primate Skeleton Old Bones: Locating, Recovering, and Dating Fossils Finding Fossils Recovering Fossils Dating Fossils How Fossils Get to Be Fossils Genes: New Windows to the Past The “Molecular Clock” The Genetic Differences between Chimps and Humans Contemporary Reflections: Who Owns Old Bones? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 10 Evolution of the Early Hominids The Origin and Evolution of the Primates Bipedalism The Benefits of Bipedalism The Evolution of Bipedalism The Early Hominids Australopithecus Paranthropus The Search for the First Hominids Ardipithecus Kenyanthropus Orrorin Sahelanthropus Putting It All Together Connecting the Dots The Ecological Context Contemporary Reflections: Is There a “Missing Link”? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 11 The Evolution of Genus Homo The Nature of Genus Homo The First Members of Genus Homo The First Stone Tools The Fossils A New Adaptive Mode To New Lands The First Fossils Migration and the Ice Ages The Life of Homo erectus Big Brains, Archaic Skulls Homo antecessor Homo heidelbergensis The Neandertals Physical Features Culture Modern Humans Anatomy Dates Culture Contemporary Reflections: Who Are the “Hobbits” from Indonesia? More Neandertals and Yet Another Human Group? The Debate Over Modern Human Origins The Models The Evidence Is This Debate Important? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 12 Evolution and Adaptation in Human Populations Population Adaptations Species Adaptations Variation in Adaptations Are All Variations Adaptively Important? Disease and Human Populations Diseases are “Natural” Disease and Hominid Evolution Disease and Human History Emerging Diseases Contemporary Reflections: Are There Jewish Diseases? Are There Black Pharmaceuticals? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 13 Human Biological Diversity Sex and Gender Why Are There No Biological Races Within the Human Species? Race as a Biological Concept Human Phenotypic Variation Genetic Variation Evolutionary Theory What, Then, Are Human Races? Anthropology and the History of Race Studies Race, Bioanthropology, and Social Issues Race and Intelligence Race and Athletic Ability Contemporary Reflections: Are Genetic Ancestry Tests Worth the Money? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings 14 Biological Anthropology and Today’s World Forensic Anthropology: Reading the Bones Lessons from the Past Bioanthropology and Global Issues Contemporary Reflections: What Can One Do with a Degree in Bioanthropology? Summary Questions for Further Thought Key Terms Suggested Readings Appendix I: Protein Synthesis and the Genetic Code Appendix II: Genes in Populations Glossary of Human and Nonhuman Primates Glossary of Terms References Credits Index
