Human Variability and Plasticity

G. A. Harrison

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511600456

Plasticity refers to the ability of many organisms to change their biology or behaviour to respond to changes in the environment, particularly when these are stressful. Humans are, perhaps, the most plastic of all species, and hence the most variable. This book reflects on the history of research in this area, state-of-the-art research methods and discoveries and needs for future research in human plasticity and variability. Topics discussed include child growth, starvation, disease of both young and old and the effects of migration, modernisation and other life-style changes. The book will be especially useful to biological anthropologists, human biologists and medical scientists interested in knowing more about how and why humans vary.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-viii
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Contents
pp ix-x
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List of contributors
pp xi-xii
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Foreword
pp xiii-xiv
- By G.A. Harrison
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1 - The pervasiveness of plasticity
pp 1-17
- By D.F. Roberts
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2 - Plasticity in early development
pp 18-45
- By D.J. Pritchard
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3 - Plasticity in the growth of Mayan refugee children living in the United States
pp 46-74
- By B. Bogin
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4 - The place of plasticity in the study of the secular trend for male stature: an analysis of Danish biological population history
pp 75-90
- By J.L. Boldsen
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5 - Plasticity, growth and energy balance
pp 91-109
- By S.J. Ulijaszek
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6 - The study of migrants as a strategy for understanding human biological plasticity
pp 110-114
- By G.W. Lasker
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7 - Human migration: effects on people, effects on populations
pp 115-145
- By D. Coleman
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8 - The use of surnames in the study of human variation and plasticity
pp 146-158
- By J.H. Relethford
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9 - A biological anthropological approach to measuring societal stress of parasitic disease: a case study of schistosomiasis
pp 159-189
- By C.G.N. Mascie-Talyor, G.E.H. Mohamed
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10 - Biological adaptability, plasticity and disease: patterns in modernizing societies
pp 190-212
- By R.M. Garruto
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11 - Human biological adaptability with special emphasis on plasticity: history, development and problems for future research
pp 213-238
- By L.M. Schell
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Index
pp 239-241
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Human Variability and Plasticity

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-viii

Contents
pp ix-x

List of contributors
pp xi-xii

Foreword
pp xiii-xiv

1 - The pervasiveness of plasticity
pp 1-17

2 - Plasticity in early development
pp 18-45

3 - Plasticity in the growth of Mayan refugee children living in the United States
pp 46-74

4 - The place of plasticity in the study of the secular trend for male stature: an analysis of Danish biological population history
pp 75-90

5 - Plasticity, growth and energy balance
pp 91-109

6 - The study of migrants as a strategy for understanding human biological plasticity
pp 110-114

7 - Human migration: effects on people, effects on populations
pp 115-145

8 - The use of surnames in the study of human variation and plasticity
pp 146-158

9 - A biological anthropological approach to measuring societal stress of parasitic disease: a case study of schistosomiasis
pp 159-189

10 - Biological adaptability, plasticity and disease: patterns in modernizing societies
pp 190-212

11 - Human biological adaptability with special emphasis on plasticity: history, development and problems for future research
pp 213-238

Index
pp 239-241

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