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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Human biology & related topics > General
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."
'A lively study of the Big C, which makes the case that cancer is
the price we pay for our marvellously complicated bodies.' The
Times, best books of 2020 'This book is packed with big ideas about
life. Every chapter has something in it which made me think wow.
Having worked in a major cancer charity for many years, Arney
writes with genuine in-depth understanding and is a perfect guide.'
Daniel M. Davis, author of The Beautiful Cure 'Rebel Cell is a
bright, engaging read, fizzing with energy and metaphor. Kat Arney
is a science writer for all of us - a powerful and talented story
teller.' Stephen McGann 'Kat's book is Dynamite. A crystal clear
reappraisal of the story behind that word we fear to mention.'
Dallas Campbell, author of Ad Astra: An Illustrated Guide to
Leaving the Planet Cancer has always been with us. It killed our
hominid ancestors, the mammals they evolved from and the dinosaurs
that trampled the ground before that. Tumours grow in pets,
livestock and wild animals. Even tiny jelly-like Hydra - creatures
that are little more than a tube full of water - can get cancer.
Paradoxically, many of us think of cancer as a contemporary killer,
a disease of our own making caused by our modern lifestyles. But
that's not true. Although it might be rare in many species, cancer
is the enemy lurking within almost every living creature. Why?
Because cancer is a bug in the system of life. We get cancer
because we can't not get it. Cancer starts when cells revolt,
throwing off their molecular shackles, and growing and dividing out
of control in a shambolic mockery of normal life. This is why we
can't avoid cancer: because the very genes that drive it are
essential for life itself. The revolution has raged, on and off,
for millions of years. But it was only in the twentieth century
that doctors and scientists made any significant progress in
understanding and treating cancer, and it's only in the past few
decades that we've finally begun to kick the mob's malignant arse.
Now the game is changing. Scientists have infiltrated cancer's
cellular rebellion and are finally learning its secrets. Geneticist
and science writer Kat Arney takes the reader back to the dawn of
life on planet earth right up to the present day to get to the
heart of what cancer really is and how by better understanding it
we might one day overcome it.
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.
This book bridges the gap between a clinician's and material
scientists' knowledge by elucidating upon the different
biomaterials used in anatomical systems and how those materials
react to the human body. It explores both established and future
prospective of biomaterial types/designs, and considerations in
material selection and synthesis, to guide students from
non-clinical background in understanding the relations of material
science and the human body.
Can you taste words, feel flavours as a shape, or hear colors? If
so you may well have synaesthesia, a neurological condition that
gives rise to a 'merging of the senses'. This Very Short
Introduction describes synaesthesia's many forms, and delves into
the underlying neuroscience. Explaining the scientific basis for
synaesthesia, Julia Simner considers how we can measure the effects
synaesthesia has on the everyday lives of people living with it.
Exploring the fascinating stories of different synaesthetes'
experiences of the world, she also discusses the documented links
between synaesthesia, childhood development, memory, personality,
and artistic creativity, and the potential limitations synaesthesia
might impose. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series
from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost
every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to
get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine
facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make
interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
This reprint of Bernard Wood's best-selling 2-volume encyclopedia
is now available as a single-volume paperback. It is ideal for grad
students and individual researchers wanting to purchase their own
desk copy of this comprehensive work. This comprehensive A to Z
encyclopedia provides extensive coverage of important scientific
terms related to improving our understanding of how we evolved.
Specifically, the 5,000 entries cover evidence and methods used to
investigate the relationships among the living great apes, evidence
about what makes the behavior of modern humans distinctive, and
evidence about the evolutionary history of that distinctiveness, as
well as information about modern methods used to trace the recent
evolutionary history of modern human populations. This text
provides a resource for everyone studying the emergence of Homo
sapiens. Visit the companion site www.woodhumanevolution.com to
browse additional references and updates from this comprehensive
encyclopedia.
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