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Evolution is the single most important idea in modern biology, shedding light on virtually every biological question, from the shape of orchid blossoms to the distribution of species across the planet. Until recently, however, the theory has had little impact on medical research or practice. Evolutionary Medicine shows how this is beginning to change. Collecting work from leaders in the field, this volume describes an array of new and innovative approaches to human health that are based on an appreciation of our long evolutionary history. For example, it shows how evolution helps to explain the complex relationship between our immune systems and the virulence and transmission of human viruses. It also shows how comparisons between how we live today and how our hunter-gatherer ancestors lived thousands of years ago illuminate a variety of contemporary ills, including obesity, lower-back pain, and insomnia. Evolutionary Medicine covers issues at every stage of life, from infancy (colic, jaundice, SIDS, parent-infant sleep struggles, ear infections, breast-feeding, asthma) to adulthood (sexually transmitted diseases, depression, overeating, addictions, child abuse, cardiovascular disease, breast and ovarian cancer) to old age (osteoporosis, geriatric sleep problems). Written for a wide range of students and researchers in medicine, anthropology, and psychology, it is an invaluable guide to this rapidly developing field.
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Evolutionary Medicine
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Evolutionary Medicine Edited by WEN DA R. TREVATHAN E. 0. SMITH JAMES J. MCKENNA
New York
Oxford
Oxford University Press
1999
Oxford University Press Oxford New York Athens Auckland Bangkok Bogota Buenos Aires Calcutta Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Florence Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi Paris Sao Paulo Singapore Taipei Tokyo Toronto Warsaw and associated companies in Berlin Ibadan
Copyright © 1999 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Evolutionary medicine / edited by Wenda R. Trevathan, Euclid O. Smith, and James J. McKenna. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-19-510355-6; ISBN 0-19-510356-4 (pbk.) I. Diseases—Causes and theories of causation. 2. Human evolution. 3. Medicine—Philosophy. I. Trevathan, Wenda. II. Smith, Euclid O. III. McKenna, James J. (James Joseph), 1948- . RB152.E96 1999 610—dc21 98-17323
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
H.L. Menken once said that "A teacher is one, who in his youth, admired teachers." Indeed, if you are lucky, somewhere at sometime, you encounter those incredible teachers who inspire as they teach, and who leave you with an irrepressible desire to want to learn more. Such teachers give you an added reason to want to succeed, and they make it possible for you to do so. In Jim McKenna's life those Professors were Larry Leach (San Diego State), Phyllis Dolhinow (University of California, Berkeley), and Sarah Mosko (UC Irvine School of Medicine). Wenda Trevathan acknowledges Jack Kelso (University of Colorado), who encouraged his students to think outside the box. Neal Smith remembers Lena M. Grain who made him understand that big ideas are important, but attention to detail is also essential. Richard M. Prenshaw introduced him to the importance of m