This comprehensive introduction to the field of human biology covers all the major areas of the field: genetic variation, variation related to climate, infectious and non-infectious diseases, aging, growth, nutrition, and demography. Written by four expert authors working in close collaboration, this second edition has been thoroughly updated to provide undergraduate and graduate students with two new chapters: one on race and culture and their ties to human biology, and the other a concluding summary chapter highlighting the integration and intersection of the topics covered in the book.

Sara Stinson is Professor of Anthropology at Queens College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York. The main focus of her research is on factors that lead to variation in growth among living human populations. She currently serves as Editor of the Yearbook of Physical Anthropology.

Barry Bogin is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. His research interests are in social and cultural factors affecting human growth and the evolution of the human growth pattern. Among his publications are The Growth of Humanity (2001, Wiley) and Patterns of Human Growth (second edition, 1999, Cambridge University Press).

Dennis O’Rourke is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Utah. His research focuses on population and evolutionary genetics, ancient DNA, and genetic epidemiology. He served as editor of Human Biology from 1999-2003.