The Artificial Ape [Hardback]How Technology Changed the Course of Human Evolutionby Timothy Taylor
Usually ships within 5 to 7 working days Description of The Artificial ApeOne of the enduring mysteries of human origins is how our ancestors separated from the other great apes and set out on a different evolutionary path: they began to walk upright, lost their body hair, and grew significantly larger brains. These new physical traits changed us so much that we could no longer exist in the wild with our primate cousins without special protection. While Darwin's theory explains our common descent, scientists are grappling with the reasons why human evolution defies the principles of natural selection and why, although we dominate the planet, we have become the weakest ape. In this fascinating narrative, leading archeologist Timothy Taylor proposes that it was our early adoption of tools, objects, and, now, technology that changed us, demonstrating how:* Baby slings made out of animal fur freed up our arms up to use tools * Clothes kept us warm reducing our need for body hair * Shelter protected us from the elements and led our bodies to become slighter and physically weaker * Fire enabled us to cook which changed the make up of our stomachs Drawing on the latest fossil evidence Taylor argues, that every step of the way, humans made choices that assumed greater control over their own evolution. This is a process that continues today as we push the frontiers of scientific technology, creating prosthetics and implants that integrate seamlessly into our bodies creating a new form of artificial humans. Title Information
Write a review of this book Customer Reviews from AmazonAbout Timothy TaylorDR TIMOTHY TAYLOR is a leading evolutionary scientist and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of World Prehistory. He has appeared on the History Channel, Discovery, National Geographic specials, and contributes to such publications as Nature, Scientific American, and World Archaeology. He is the author of The Buried Soul and The Prehistory of Sex. He is Professor of Archeology at the University of Bradford in the UK.Contents of The Artificial ApeSurvival of the WeakestUnintelligent Design Walking and Chewing Gum Being Borne The Brno Effect Men in White Coats Darwin's Barbarians De-evolution and Counterbiology Sailing in Tradescant's Ark |
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