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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Human biology & related topics > General
Details on a Major New Discovery included in a New Afterword
Why do we look the way we do? Neil Shubin, the paleontologist and
professor of anatomy who co-discovered "Tiktaalik," the "fish with
hands," tells the story of our bodies as you've never heard it
before. By examining fossils and DNA, he shows us that our hands
actually resemble fish fins, our heads are organized like
long-extinct jawless fish, and major parts of our genomes look and
function like those of worms and bacteria." "Your Inner Fish makes
us look at ourselves and our world in an illuminating new light.
This is science writing at its finest--enlightening, accessible and
told with irresistible enthusiasm.
We are a restless, world-changing species. We are the only organism
that combines a multitude of abilities to harness the rules of
nature, continuously manipulating our environment, its resources
and even our own bodies to fit our ever-changing needs and desires.
What is it that enables us to share some 99 percent of DNA as well
as some basic behaviors with other organisms, yet at the same time
be so different and powerful?Coalescing understandings driven from
biology, psychology, anthropology, history and more, Ben David
addresses the above question using a new paradigm: The Gordian knot
between five human traits - imagination, creative making, complex
communication, change and intergenerational transfer - evolutionary
developed and co-amplified as the ultra-complex system called Homo
sapiens. Weaving personal stories with professional experience, Ben
David narrates innovative definitions of technology, education,
science and their co-dependence; emphasizes their roles in the
development of human societies; deliberates their implications on
everyday life; discusses the crucial role of science education; and
offers a fresh look at who we are as the leading species on this
planet.Dr Liat Ben David is the CEO of the Davidson Institute of
Science Education, the educational arm of Israel's acclaimed
Weizmann Institute of Science. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology
and has more than 30 years of experience in the field of STEM
education. Ben David teaches regularly in various spheres,
including academia and TEDx; she is an accomplished author who has
published numerous articles and books.
We are a restless, world-changing species. We are the only organism
that combines a multitude of abilities to harness the rules of
nature, continuously manipulating our environment, its resources
and even our own bodies to fit our ever-changing needs and desires.
What is it that enables us to share some 99 percent of DNA as well
as some basic behaviors with other organisms, yet at the same time
be so different and powerful?Coalescing understandings driven from
biology, psychology, anthropology, history and more, Ben David
addresses the above question using a new paradigm: The Gordian knot
between five human traits - imagination, creative making, complex
communication, change and intergenerational transfer - evolutionary
developed and co-amplified as the ultra-complex system called Homo
sapiens. Weaving personal stories with professional experience, Ben
David narrates innovative definitions of technology, education,
science and their co-dependence; emphasizes their roles in the
development of human societies; deliberates their implications on
everyday life; discusses the crucial role of science education; and
offers a fresh look at who we are as the leading species on this
planet.Dr Liat Ben David is the CEO of the Davidson Institute of
Science Education, the educational arm of Israel's acclaimed
Weizmann Institute of Science. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology
and has more than 30 years of experience in the field of STEM
education. Ben David teaches regularly in various spheres,
including academia and TEDx; she is an accomplished author who has
published numerous articles and books.
Every second throughout life, billions of sodium-potassium pumps
enable the human muscle cells to function. The pump is an enzyme
found in the plasma membrane of all animal cells and is an
important example of active transport. The Na+, K+-pumps keep us
going by pumping sodium out of cells while pumping potassium into
cells and without them, we would not survive. Addressed to
specialists in the field of biomedicine, the author presents a
thorough overview of his scientific results over more than 40
years. The book is richly illustrated and seeks to explain how a
single molecule creates the required conditions for our muscles to
work.
The unforgettable introduction to the human body that continues to
inspire new generations of doctors Awesome and magnificent as the
body itself, here is the one book that explains the mysteries of
human anatomy - from head to heart; muscles to metabolism; bones to
blood and beyond - in a way certain to captivate. It cuts through
jargon and transcends the ordinary to let you get to know all about
your body: how it adapts, how it protects itself, how it senses the
world, how it grows. An indispensable book for everyone who has
ever felt a sense of wonder for the remarkable machine that remains
infinitely superior to every human invention. Praise for The Body
Has a Head: "Anyone with an interest in body and mind will be well
rewarded by reading what Eckstein has so painstakingly crafted. He
lays out the real-world framework of what we are and the historical
means and people by which we got that knowledge, all couched in a
writing style that's unusual, marvellous, apt, and inviting." "This
is a rare book to find, and utterly brilliant. Gustav Eckstein is
the Oliver Sacks of the past. A doctor whose writing about the
body, disease and health is utterly entertaining, and genius. If
you can get your hands on a copy, do." "A refreshing approach to
human anatomy! A priceless combination of scientific information
and history balanced with clever comparisons and analogies.
Eckstein's light approach and simple phrasing allow for easy
reading while providing enormous amounts of information." Editorial
reviews: "Comes close to genius and fails only for reaching too
far, and that is a gorgeous way to fail." Newsweek "The scope of
this book is nothing less than the scope of man." Newsweek "An
endlessly enchanting, stimulating work of high literary value."
Modern Medicine "Stimulating . . . profound . . . vivid." Wall
Street Journal "A modern classic." Columbus Dispatch "As lively as
life itself, as surprising in its twists and turns as a
roller-coaster ride, as humane and lucidly down to earth as a book
can be." Saturday Review
Human Body is a concise guide to the structure, functions, and disorders of the body. Using full-color, highly detailed illustrations and clear, accessible language, this book is a fascinating introduction to how the body works and what may go wrong. The first part, Anatomy of the Human Body, begins with a medical atlas that shows how the parts of the body fit together. Each individual body system - such as the skeletal and digestive systems - is then fully illustrated and explained in detail. A compelling section on the human life cycle examines the changes in the body from conception to old age. In the second part of the book, Diseases and Disorders, some of the most common disorders are described and illustrated, system by system, with explanations of exactly what goes wrong and why. Medical conditions covered include infections, injuries, and cancer. Finally, there is a concise glossary of medical terms.
For many years, de Waal has observed chimpanzees soothe distressed
neighbors and bonobos share their food. Now he delivers fascinating
fresh evidence for the seeds of ethical behavior in primate
societies that further cements the case for the biological origins
of human fairness. Interweaving vivid tales from the animal kingdom
with thoughtful philosophical analysis, de Waal seeks a bottom-up
explanation of morality that emphasizes our connection with
animals. In doing so, de Waal explores for the first time the
implications of his work for our understanding of modern religion.
Whatever the role of religious moral imperatives, he sees it as a
Johnny-come-lately role that emerged only as an addition to our
natural instincts for cooperation and empathy.
But unlike the dogmatic neo-atheist of his book s title, de Waal
does not scorn religion per se. Instead, he draws on the long
tradition of humanism exemplified by the painter Hieronymus Bosch
and asks reflective readers to consider these issues from a
positive perspective: What role, if any, does religion play for a
well-functioning society today? And where can believers and
nonbelievers alike find the inspiration to lead a good life?
Rich with cultural references and anecdotes of primate behavior,
The Bonobo and the Atheist engagingly builds a unique argument
grounded in evolutionary biology and moral philosophy. Ever a
pioneering thinker, de Waal delivers a heartening and inclusive new
perspective on human nature and our struggle to find purpose in our
lives."
An essential guide to this major contemporary issue, Consanguinity
in Context is a uniquely comprehensive account of intra-familial
marriage. Detailed information on past and present religious,
social and legal practices and prohibitions is presented as a
backdrop to the preferences and beliefs of the 1100+ million people
in consanguineous unions. Chapters on population genetics, and the
role of consanguinity in reproductive behaviour and genetic
variation, set the scene for critical analyses of the influence of
consanguinity on health in the early years of life. The discussion
on consanguinity and disorders of adulthood is the first review of
its kind and is particularly relevant given the ageing of the
global population. Incest is treated as a separate issue, with
historical and present-day examples examined. The final three
chapters deal in detail with practical issues, including genetic
testing, education and counselling, national and international
legislation and imperatives, and the future of consanguineous
marriage worldwide.
For over thirty years, rodents have been used in the study of many human and animal diseases. The rat in particular continues to serve as an experimental model for drug safety and efficacy tests for the treatment of neurological disorders, heart disease, diabetes, breast, liver and other cancers. With the more recent advent of transgenic technology, an impressive amount of new knowledge about transmissible spongiform encephalopathies has been accumulated. It is likely that the principles learned from the study of these prion diseases will be applicable to elucidating the causes of more common neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. As a result of this and, more importantly, because of increasingly complicated legislation governing the use of animals in regulated procedures, there is a need for experimenters (both experienced and those new to the laboratory) to improve their skills continuously and to become au fait with all aspects of preparatory techniques. The Rat Nervous System provides an accessible guide to the dissection and perfusion of rats, placing particular emphasis on the preparation of nervous tissue for further study in the laboratory including biochemical analysis and microscopic study. Logically structured with highly illustrated chapters covering gross anatomy, anatomy of the nervous system, anaesthesia, biological fixation and tissue extraction, the book provides a comprehensive introduction to those techniques required to provide consistent, high-quality tissues for subsequent investigation. Animal husbandry of a high standard, together with minimisation of discomfort, is essential if the information sought by the investigator is to be valid and reproducible; an overview of these topics is therefore also incorporated in this volume.
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