The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution

by Jones, Steve; Martin, Robert D.; Pilbeam, David; Bunney, Sarah; Martin, Robert D.; Pilbeam, David

• ISBN13: 9780521323703
• ISBN10: 0521323703
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1992-11-01
• Publisher: Cambridge Univ Pr

Summary

This is a new and refreshing introduction to the human species that places modern humans squarely in evolutionary perspective and treats evolution itself as a continuing genetic process in which every one of us is involved. Over seventy scholars worldwide have collaborated on the Encyclopedia, which is divided into ten main sections. Following a keynote introduction asking simply "What makes us human?", the coverage ranges widely: from genetics, primatology and fossil origins to human biology and ecology, brain function and behavior, and demography and disease. Emphasis is placed throughout on the biological diversity of modern people and the increasing convergence of the fossil and genetic evidence for human evolution that has emerged in recent years. Because of the need to look at humankind in the context of our closest relatives, the Encyclopedia also pays particular attention to the evolution and ecology of the living primates--lemurs, lorises, monkeys and apes. It deals with the evolution and ecology of human society, as reconstructed from archaeological remains, and from studies of indigenous peoples and living primates today. It considers the biology of uniquely human abilities such as language and upright walking, and it reviews the biological future of humankind in the face of challenges greater than those ever before experienced. Boxes highlighting key issues and techniques are provided throughout the text, and there are numerous maps, photographs, diagrams, and ready-reference tables--all the reader needs in a single volume to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of how humankind has developed and how scientists set about investigating the origin of our species.

Table of Contents

List of reference tables	viii	(1)
List of maps	ix	(1)
List of contributors	x	(1)
Foreword	xi
Richard Dawkins
Introduction What makes us human?	1	(6)
David Pilbeam
Part One Patterns of primate evolution	7	(32)
1.1 The nature of evolution	9	(8)
Steve Jones
The structure of DNA	11	(1)
Steve Jones
The genetic code	12	(1)
Steve Jones
Translating the genetic message	13	(2)
Steve Jones
Evolution, creation and controversy	15	(2)
Steve Jones
1.2 Classification and evolutionary relationships	17	(7)
Robert Martin
Classification of primates	20	(4)
Robert Martin
1.3 Non-human primates	24	(9)
Matt Cartmill
1.4 Conservation of primates	33	(6)
Russell A. Mittermeier
Eleanor J. Sterling
Studying primates in the wild	36	(1)
A.F. Richard
Breeding primates in captivity	37	(2)
Robert Martin
Part Two The life of primates	39	(68)
2.1 Body size and energy requirements	41	(5)
L.C. Aiello
Scaling	42	(2)
Robert Martin
Human body size and energy	44	(2)
L.C. Aiello
2.2 Human adaptations to the physical environment	46	(6)
P.T. Baker
Sweating--the human response to heat	48	(4)
P.T. Baker
2.3 Differences between the sexes	52	(4)
Georgina Mace
2.4 Jaws and teeth	56	(4)
Christopher Dean
2.5 Diets and guts	60	(5)
D.J. Chivers
Primate gum-eaters	63	(2)
Robert Martin
2.6 Selecting and processing food	65	(4)
Kenneth E. Glander
Food in a primate's life	66	(3)
A.F. Richard
2.7 Human diet and subsistence	69	(6)
D.R. Harris
2.8 Primate locomotion and posture	75	(5)
John G. Fleagle
Walking on two legs	78	(2)
Robert Martin
2.9 Human locomotion	80	(6)
R. McNeill Alexander
Energy for walking and running	84	(2)
R. McNeill Alexander
2.10 Primate reproduction	86	(5)
Robert Martin
Posture and childbirth	88	(3)
M.H. Day
2.11 Hormones and sexual behaviour	91	(4)
A.F. Dixson
2.12 Life-history patterns	95	(3)
Paul H. Harvey
Rates of breeding	96	(2)
Robert Martin
2.13 Human growth and development	98	(9)
James M. Tanner
Evolution of the human growth curve	100	(4)
James M. Tanner
Neoteny	104	(3)
Brian T. Shea
Part Three The brain and language	107	(36)
3.1 Primate brains and senses	109	(6)
Terrence W. Deacon
Testing the intelligence of apes	111	(2)
P.C. Lee
Sleep and dreaming	113	(2)
Stephen Young
3.2 The human brain	115	(9)
Terrence W. Deacon
Impressions of ancestral brains	117	(5)
Terrence W. Deacon
The brain and left-handedness	122	(2)
Marian Annett
3.3 Vocal communication by non-human primates	124	(4)
Elke Zimmermann
3.4 Biological aspects of language	128	(6)
Terrence W. Deacon
Brain maturation and language acquisition	131	(3)
Terrence W. Deacon
3.5 Human speech and language	134	(4)
Philip Lieberman
Evolution of the speech apparatus	136	(2)
Philip Lieberman
3.6 Language training of apes	138	(5)
E.S. Savage-Rumbaugh
Part Four Primate social organisation	143	(24)
4.1 Social behaviour and evolutionary theory	145	(5)
Robin Dunbar
Genes and altruism	146	(2)
Robin Dunbar
Primate aggression	148	(2)
A.K. Turner
4.2 Mating and parental care	150	(5)
Robin Dunbar
Social changes	152	(2)
A.F. Richard
Human mating patterns	154	(1)
Robin Dunbar
4.3 Home range and territory	155	(2)
Paul H. Harvey
Andrew F. Read
4.4 Smell as a signal	157	(4)
R.W. Sussman
4.5 Facial patterns as signals and masks	161	(6)
Jonathan Kingdon
Human facial expressions	164	(3)
Stephen Young
Part Five Human evolution in a geological context	167	(30)
5.1 Land movements and species dispersal	169	(5)
Peter J. Whybrow
5.2 Climatic change in the past	174	(5)
Neil Roberts
5.3 Methods of dating	179	(8)
F.H. Brown
Correlating the East African hominid sites	181	(3)
F.H. Brown
Fossils as dating indicators	184	(3)
David Pilbeam
5.4 Fossil deposits and their investigation	187	(4)
Anna K. Behrensmeyer
Taphonomy--the science of burial	189	(2)
Anna K. Behrensmeyer
5.5 Reconstructing past environments	191	(6)
Peter Andrews
Part Six The primate fossil record	197	(56)
6.1 The fossil history of primates	199	(10)
Elwyn Simons
Evolution of prosimians	201	(8)
Philip D. Gingerich
6.2 Evolution of New World monkeys	209	(8)
A.L. Rosenberger
6.3 Evolution of Old World monkeys	217	(6)
Eric Delson
6.4 Evolution of apes	223	(8)
Jay Kelley
6.5 Evolution of australopithecines	231	(10)
B.A. Wood
6.6 Evolution of early humans	241	(12)
C.B. Stringer
Part Seven Primate genetics and evolution	253	(40)
7.1 Principles of genetics	255	(9)
D. Whitehouse
Mendel and the beginnings of genetics	259	(3)
Steve Jones
The bald lemur--a primate model for a human genetic disease	262	(2)
D. Whitehouse
7.2 Genetic diversity in humans	264	(5)
Steve Jones
Electrophoresis--separating giant molecules	265	(2)
Steve Jones
Life's fingerprints	267	(1)
Steve Jones
The polymerase chain reaction: amplifying life	268	(1)
Steve Jones
7.3 Mutation and human evolution	269	(5)
Steve Jones
7.4 Human chromosomes	274	(7)
Joy D.A. Delhanty
Techniques for studying chromosomes	275	(1)
Joy D.A. Delhanty
The Y chromosome	276	(2)
Steve Jones
Prenatal screening for chromosomal abnormalities	278	(3)
Joy D.A. Delhanty
7.5 Bottlenecks in human evolution	281	(3)
Shahin Rouhani
Steve Jones
Tristan da Cunha--a genetic laboratory	282	(2)
Steve Jones
7.6 Natural selection in humans	284	(4)
Steve Jones
7.7 Distribution of genetic diseases in human populations	288	(5)
F. Vogel
The Hardy-Weinberg rule: how genes behave in populations	290	(1)
Steve Jones
First-cousin marriages	291	(2)
F. Vogel
Part Eight Genetic clues of relatedness	293	(30)
8.1 Measuring relatedness	295	(3)
A.E. Friday
Calibrating the molecular clock	296	(2)
A.E. Friday
8.2 Chromosomal evolution in primates	298	(5)
J. Marks
8.3 Immunological evidence on primates	303	(4)
V. Sarich
Genetics and the immune system	304	(3)
Steve Jones
8.4 Reconstructing human evolution from proteins	307	(6)
Morris Goodman
8.5 DNA-DNA hybridisation in the study of primate evolution	313	(3)
C.G. Sibley
The DNA hybridisation technique	314	(2)
C.G. Sibley
8.6 Human evolution: the evidence from DNA sequencing	316	(7)
A.E. Friday
Cutting, slicing and sequencing genes	318	(1)
Steve Jones
Hunting for genes with a Southern blot	319	(1)
Steve Jones
Was Eve an African?	320	(3)
Steve Jones
Part Nine Early human behaviour and ecology	323	(66)
9.1 The hominid way of life	325	(10)
Richard Potts
Cannibalism or ritual dismemberment?	330	(5)
Paul G. Bahn
9.2 Studying human evolution by analogy	335	(6)
Robert Foley
9.3 Early human mental abilities	341	(5)
J.A.J. Gowlett
Toolmaking by apes	342	(4)
P.C. Lee
9.4 Evolution of human manipulation	346	(4)
Erik Trinkaus
9.5 Tools--the Palaeolithic record	350	(11)
J.A.J. Gowlett
Throwing	358	(3)
Barbara Isaac
9.6 Ancient art	361	(4)
Paul G. Bahn
9.7 Subsistence--a key to the past	365	(4)
Lewis R. Binford
9.8 Reconstructing prehistoric diet	369	(4)
N.J. van der Merwe
How bones reveal diet	371	(2)
N.J. van der Merwe
9.9 Origins of agriculture	373	(7)
Frank Hole
9.10 Domestication of animals	380	(9)
Juliet Clutton-Brock
Part Ten Human populations, past and present	387	(52)
10.1 The dispersion of modern humans	389	(13)
W.W. Howells
The peopling of the Pacific	394	(4)
Steve Jones
Genes and language	398	(3)
Steve Jones
Fossil DNA	401	(1)
Steve Jones
10.2 Reconstructing ancient populations	402	(4)
J. Landers
10.3 Human populations before agriculture	406	(5)
R.S. Meindl
10.4 People and disease	411	(10)
A. Dobson
Epidemiological theory	412	(4)
A. Dobson
Immunisation and the eradication of disease	416	(5)
A. Dobson
10.5 Trends in population growth	421	(4)
J. Landers
Demographic analysis	422	(3)
J. Landers
10.6 Fertility control: past, present and future	425	(8)
Alan S. McNeilly
Developments in fertility treatments	430	(3)
D.I. Lewis-Jones
10.7 Tribal peoples in the modern world	433	(6)
V. Luling
Tribal peoples and their ways of life	434	(5)
V. Luling
Conclusion The evolutionary future of humankind	439	(3)
Steve Jones
Eugenics	442	(4)
Steve Jones
Appendix I Who's who of historical figures	446	(8)
Appendix II Geological timescale	454	(2)
Appendix III World map of sites	456	(2)
Glossary	458	(15)
Further reading	473	(14)
Index	487	(18)
Acknowledgements	505