In this book, Dr Quintyn considers whether genetic engineering will exacerbate social injustices and/or lead to public safety issues. As designer babies mature, will they feel a sense of superiority or pass on mutations that negatively affect future generations? Should we ignore the risk of zoonotic (animal) diseases because they offer potential benefits for reducing organ shortages? Scientific advancement, if not guided responsibly and with public input, can be detrimental to public safety.This book is unique as it encompasses many biotechnologies within the definition of biotechnology. It gives a balanced view of biotechnology: its promise as evidenced in repairing mutations (i.e., genetic editing) and its dangers evidenced in creating (unintentionally) dangerous microbes or unregulated germline editing and cloning. Additionally, this book includes animals in biotechnological research because the success, advances, techniques, and science of genetic engineering could not have occurred without using animals (and microorganisms, insects, plants) as model organisms. A comprehensive description of the CRISPR system in bacteria and the exploitation of this knowledge in creating the CRISPR/Cas9 technology is also incorporated in this read.The author's overall goal is to discuss other biotechnology that is being used to improve and put at risk the health, environment, and safety of humans, giving the book a competitive edge. Furthermore, the book provides a provocative side in challenging scientists to consider the current belief governing research and development, which is that scientific advancement and public safety create a false dichotomy.

Readings in Evolutionary Theory, Genetics, and the Origins of Modern Human Morphology provides students with a collection of readings that explore critical concepts in biological anthropology and human evolution. The text is divided into 10 distinct sections that feature an introduction, relevant readings, and post-reading questions. Opening sections explore creationism versus evolution, the history of evolutionary thought, population genetics and microevolution, and heritability. Students read about natural selection in action, primate behavior, evolutionary systematics, and human evolution and the origins of bipedalism. The final sections examine Neanderthals, the origins of modern humans, and what it is to be human. Concise and accessible, Readings in Evolutionary Theory, Genetics, and the Origins of Modern Human Morphology is an ideal resource for courses in anthropology and human evolution.

In the arguments on modern human origins the Qafzeh-Skhul hominans, based on skeletal analyses, are accepted as "anatomically modern" and given the lofty title of "Proto-Cro-Magnons." However, their modernity has been questioned in the literature. In this research, 42 dimensions were measured on the craniofacial bones of Qafzeh, Skhul, Cro-Magnons, Neanderthals, and other archaic, early, and recent modern samples from Africa, Western Asia, Europe, and East Asia (total crania, N=400) to test the null hypothesis that the Qafzeh-Skhul hominans are 'Proto-Cro-Magnons.' An alternate hypothesis was also tested: the Qafzeh and Skhul hominan samples have morphometric affinities to one, some or none of the regional sample groups in this research. Canonical variate analysis based on log size/shape and shape D2 for male and female craniofacial data show quite clearly that the Qafzeh and Skhul hominan samples are distant from the Cro-Magnons but closer to African and Levantine (Middle Eastern) sample groups. Hierarchical cluster analysis presented similar results. Based on the data in this research, the hypothesis stating that the Qafzeh and Skhul hominans are "Proto-Cro-Magnons" is rejected. Instead, the alternate hypothesis is accepted: the Qafzeh and Skhul hominans have strong morphometric affinities to archaic and early modern Africans and Levantines. Together, the Qafzeh-Skhul skeletal sample shows strong evidence of mosaic evolution. In essence, are the Qafzeh and Skhul hominans descendants of "the" modern African population that left the continent 200,000 to 150,000 years ago according to the mitochrondrial DNA genetic evidence? This is certainly possible. Are the Qafzeh and Skhul hominans ancestors of the later Cro-Magnons who, supposedly, "replaced" all existing, well-adapted populations in the Old World--even the remarkable Neanderthals--by 30,000 years ago? According to the craniofacial data in this research, the answer is no.

In this book, Conrad Quintyn details the two intransigent sides of the race issue in biological anthropology and human biology in order to propose a common-sense compromise. This compromise is interesting because it does not derive from academic armchair philosophy. It takes into account practical issues in the social environment. This book is significant to the field, at this time, because it addresses the following issues, which form the basis for discussing the future of racial classification in America: 1) There is a high frequency of admixture in U.S. population caused by the steady flow of immigrants over the years, resulting in multiracial populations. Hundreds of thousands of these multiracial Americans are demanding visibility, acceptanceand in many cases an identity that is separate from black or white; 2) Officials in federal and state agencies as well as black and Hispanic political activists worry that allowing people to choose more than one race, or eliminating race altogether, would impact civil rights compliance and educational accountability for students by race and ethnicity; distribution of federal aid to minorities; and minority districting in congressional elections. It might also erode black or Hispanic solidarity and confuse law enforcement, since the FBI, state, and local police depend on race for much of their day-to-day work; and 3) Population admixture has increased the difficulty in determining race using the skull, which has implications for human identification in forensic science. Quintyn analyzes several critical arguments posed by both sides and propose a practical compromise which is integral to the future of racial classification in America. First, from the racialists perspective, they ask if there is no such thing as race, what would it look like if it existed? Furthermore, if the premise is accepted that there are no biological races, and there is much compelling evidence presented in the literature, then how is it that a person of European ancestry is easily distinguished from a person of African or Asian ancestry? In this book which brings us closer to answering these questions, Quintyn begins with a history of the race argument, with an emphasis on biological anthropology, to give the reader some critical background information. He gives in chronological order several biological definitions of race before discussing its meaning in contemporary society, and touches on race and medicine. In concluding his study, unlike current books on race, he argues that the academic consensus that there is no such thing as race is ultimately pointless.

In the arguments on modern human origins the Qafzeh-Skhul hominans, based on skeletal analyses, are accepted as "anatomically modern" and given the lofty title of "Proto-Cro-Magnons." However, their modernity has been questioned in the literature. In this research, 42 dimensions were measured on the craniofacial bones of Qafzeh, Skhul, Cro-Magnons, Neanderthals, and other archaic, early, and recent modern samples from Africa, Western Asia, Europe, and East Asia (total crania, N=400) to test the null hypothesis that the Qafzeh-Skhul hominans are 'Proto-Cro-Magnons.' An alternate hypothesis was also tested: the Qafzeh and Skhul hominan samples have morphometric affinities to one, some or none of the regional sample groups in this research. Canonical variate analysis based on log size/shape and shape D2 for male and female craniofacial data show quite clearly that the Qafzeh and Skhul hominan samples are distant from the Cro-Magnons but closer to African and Levantine (Middle Eastern) sample groups. Hierarchical cluster analysis presented similar results. Based on the data in this research, the hypothesis stating that the Qafzeh and Skhul hominans are "Proto-Cro-Magnons" is rejected. Instead, the alternate hypothesis is accepted: the Qafzeh and Skhul hominans have strong morphometric affinities to archaic and early modern Africans and Levantines. Together, the Qafzeh-Skhul skeletal sample shows strong evidence of mosaic evolution. In essence, are the Qafzeh and Skhul hominans descendants of "the" modern African population that left the continent 200,000 to 150,000 years ago according to the mitochrondrial DNA genetic evidence? This is certainly possible. Are the Qafzeh and Skhul hominansancestors of the later Cro-Magnons who, supposedly, "replaced" all existing, well-adapted populations in the Old World--even the remarkable Neanderthals--by 30,000 years ago? According to the craniofacial data in this research, the answer is no.