Human Species: an Introduction to Biological Anthropology - Softcover

Relethford, John H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0767411714 ISBN 13: 9780767411714

Publisher: Mayfield Publishing Co ,U.S., 2000

Synopsis

This general introduction to contemporary physical anthropology presents balanced coverage of the major components of the field: genetics and evolutionary theory, human variation, human evolution, and the biology, behavior, and evolution of primates.

About this title

From the Publisher:

An emphasis on the relationship between human biology and culture.
Data are presented in the context of explanatory models and hypothesis testing.
Behavior is discussed in an evolutionary context.
The text emphasizes the human species in its context within the primate order; nonhuman primates are treated in terms of what they can tell us about the human condition.
Special topic boxes in each chapter focus on contemporary issues.
The text includes the following pedagogy: a helpful review of cell biology in Chapter 2, abundant maps, color photos and illustrations, two types of glossaries, chapter summaries, supplemental reading lists, a bibliography, an index, and four appendixes.
The text is now divided into three parts Evolution and Diversity in Human Populations, Our Place in Nature, and Human Evolution.
Updated coverage of the fossil record focuses on broad general groups of early hominids rather than detailed species differences.
Human variation is introduced in Chapter 4 following the chapter on principles of microevolution so that students can see how these principles apply to an important aspect of the modern human species.
The concept of race is now discussed in Chapter 4, highlighting it as a central issue.
Chapters on macroevolution and the fossil record have been streamlined and merged into Chapter 10, linking the chapters on living primates with the chapters on the fossil record.
Chapter 11 has been streamlined to emphasize major evolutionary trends.
Chapter 13 includes new interpretations of the number of species of early Homo as well as a discussion of Neandertal DNA.

About the Author:

John H. Relethford is currently a Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair in the Department of Anthropology at the State University of New York College at Oneonta. He received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the State University of New York at Albany in 1980. He has taught at SUNY-Oneonta since 1981. He is the recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has authored several books, over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, 13 book chapters, and a number of other publications. His research and teaching interests are in human population genetics, human variation, and the origin of modern humans.

About this edition

• Publisher: Mayfield Publishing Co ,U.S.
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0767411714
• ISBN 13: 9780767411714
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 499