Human Biology Concepts and Current Issues

Explore Human Biology in Relation to Current Issues, in the Text and Online

Through his teaching, his textbook, and his online blog, award-winning teacher Michael D. Johnson sparks interest in human biology by connecting basic biology to real-world issues that are relevant to your life.  Using a storytelling approach and extensive online support, Human Biology: Concepts and Current Issues, 8th Edition not only demystifies how the human body works but also drives you to become a better, more discerning consumer of health and science information.  Each chapter opens with Johnson’s popular “Current Issues” essays, and within each chapter, “BlogInFocus” references direct readers to his frequently-updated blog for breaking human biology-related news.

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Dr. Michael D. Johnson spent most of his youth in the fields and forests of rural Washington, observing nature. He earned his B.S. degree in zoology from Washington State University and then moved east to earn a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Michigan. After completing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School he joined the faculty of West Virginia University, where he remained for most of his career.

In 2001, Dr. Johnson moved to the Middle East, where he served first as the founding dean of Oman Medical College in the Sultanate of Oman and then as associate dean for premedical education at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. In both positions, he directed the premedical education of students from more than 25 countries. He returned to the United States in 2011 to focus on his writing.

Dr. Johnson received several teaching awards during his career, including the West Virginia University Foundation Outstanding Teacher award and the Distinguished Teacher Award of the School of Medicine. He is a member of the American Physiological Society, the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society, the National Association of Biology Teachers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Whether teaching undergraduates or medical students, Dr. Johnson has always had a keen interest in instilling in students an appreciation of science. He seeks to show students how the advancement of scientific knowledge sometimes raises unforeseen ethical, political, economic, and social issues for all of us to discuss and solve. Through this book, he encourages students to become scientifically literate so that they will feel comfortable making responsible choices as consumers of science.

You can contact Dr. Johnson at mdj5412@gmail.com with comments or questions about this book.

1. Human Biology, Science, and Society

2. The Chemistry of Living Things

3. Structure and Function of Cells

4. From Cells to Organ Systems

5. The Skeletal System

6. The Muscular System

7. Blood

8. Heart and Blood Vessels

9. The Immune System and Mechanisms of Defense

10. The Respiratory System. Exchange of Gases

11. The Nervous System. Integration and Control

12. Sensory Mechanisms

13. The Endocrine System

14. The Digestive System and Nutrition

15. The Urinary System

16. Reproductive Systems

17. Cell Reproduction and Differentiation

18. Cancer. Uncontrolled Cell Division and Differentiation

19. Genetics and Inheritance

20. DNA Technology and Genetic Engineering

21. Development, Maturation, Aging, and Death

22. Evolution and the Origins of Life

23. Ecosystems and Populations

24. Human Impacts, Biodiversity, and Environmental Issues

Glossary G-1

Answers to Figure Check, Quick Check, and Test Yourself Questions A-1

Credits C-1

Index I-1

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