In this Book

Human Evolution and Development

Book
Nico M. van Straalen Dick Roelofs
2019
Published by: Amsterdam University Press
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summary
Our understanding of human evolution is proceeding at an unprecedented rate over the last years due to spectacular fossil finds, reconstructions based on genome comparison, ancient DNA sequencing and new insights into developmental genetics. This book takes an integrative approach in which the development of the human embryo, the evolutionary history of our body, the structure of human populations, their dispersal over the world and their cultures are examined by integrating paleoanthropology, developmental biology, comparative zoology, population genetics and phylogenetic reconstruction.
The authors discuss questions like: - What do we know about ancient humans? - What happens in the development of an embryo? - How did we manage to walk upright and why did we lose our hair? - What is the relationship between language, migration and evolution? - How does our body respond to the challenges of modern society?
In addition to being a core text for the study of the life sciences, Human Evolution and Development is an easy-to-read overview for the interested layperson.

Table of Contents

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Cover

Half-title, Title, Copyright

pp. 1-4

Table of Contents

pp. 5-6

Preface

pp. 7-10

1 The story of our ancestors

pp. 11-36

2 From ovum to human

pp. 37-68

3 Our tinkered body

pp. 69-108

4 There must be differences

pp. 109-150

5 The past in the present

pp. 151-182

6 The cultural human

pp. 183-214

7 Do humans still evolve?

pp. 215-240

Epilogue

pp. 241-244

Further reading

pp. 245-248

Primary literature

pp. 249-274

Credits

pp. 275-280

Index

pp. 281-296
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