Human biology is an interdisciplinary area of academic study that examines Human through the influences and interplay of many diverse fields such as human genetics, human evolution, human physiology, anatomy, epidemiology, anthropology, human ecology, human nutrition, population genetics, and sociocultural influences.[Sara Stinson, Barry Bogin, Dennis O'Rourke. Human Biology: An Evolutionary and Biocultural Perspective. Publisher John Wiley & Sons, 2012. . Page 4-5.]
It is also a portmanteau term that describes all biological aspects of the human body, typically using the human body as a type organism for Mammalia, and in that context it is the basis for many undergraduate Academic degree and modules.
Most aspects of human biology are identical or very similar to general mammalian biology. In particular, and as examples, humans :
-
maintain their body temperature
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have an internal skeleton
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have a circulatory system
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have a nervous system to provide sensory information and operate and coordinate muscular activity.
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have a reproductive system in which they bear live young and produce milk.
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have an endocrine system and produce and eliminate hormones and other bio-chemical signalling agents
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have a respiratory system where air is inhaled into lungs and oxygen is used to produce energy.
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have an immune system to protect against disease
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Excretory system as urine and feces.
History
The study of integrated human biology started in the 1920s, sparked by
Charles Darwin's theories which were re-conceptualized by many scientists. Human attributes, such as child growth and genetics, were put into question and thus human biology was created.
Typical human attributes
The key aspects of human biology are those ways in which humans are substantially different from other mammals.
Humans have a very large Human brain in a head that is very large for the size of the animal. This large brain has enabled a range of unique attributes including the development of complex and the ability to make and use a complex range of .
The upright stance and bipedal locomotion is not unique to humans but humans are the only species to rely almost exclusively on this mode of locomotion.
In comparison with most other mammals, humans are very Human longevity
Humans lack fur. Although there is a residual covering of fine hair, which may be more developed in some people, and localised human hair covering on the head, axillary hair and pubic hair regions, in terms of protection from cold, humans are almost naked. The reason for this development is still much debated.
The human eye can see objects in colour but is not well adapted to low light conditions. The sense of smell and of taste are present but are relatively inferior to a wide range of other mammals. Human hearing is efficient but lacks the acuity of some other mammals. Similarly human sense of touch is well developed especially in the hands where dextrous tasks are performed but the sensitivity is still significantly less than in other animals, particularly those equipped with Whiskers such as .
Scientific investigation
Human biology tries to understand and promotes research on humans as
living beings as a scientific discipline. It makes use of various
science, such as
experiments and
, to detail the biochemical and biophysical foundations of human life describe and formulate the underlying processes using
model organism. As a basic science, it provides the knowledge base for medicine. A number of sub-disciplines include
anatomy,
cell biology,
histology and morphology.
Medicine
The capabilities of the human brain and the human dexterity in making and using tools, has enabled humans to understand their own biology through scientific experiment, including
dissection,
autopsy, prophylactic
medicine which has, in turn, enable humans to extend their life-span by understanding and mitigating the effects of
.
Understanding human biology has enabled and fostered a wider understanding of mammalian biology and by extension, the biology of all living organisms.
Nutrition
Human nutrition is typical of mammalian omnivorous nutrition requiring a balanced input of
,
,
,
, and minerals. However, the human diet has a few very specific requirements. These include two specific amino acids, alpha-linolenic acid and
linoleic acid without which life is not sustainable in the medium to long term. All other fatty acids can be synthesized from dietary fats. Similarly, human life requires a range of
to be present in food and if these are missing or are supplied at unacceptably low levels, metabolic disorders result which can end in death. The human metabolism is similar to most other mammals except for the need to have an intake of
Vitamin C to prevent
scurvy and other deficiency diseases. Unusually amongst mammals, a human can synthesize Vitamin D3 using natural UV light from the sun on the skin. This capability may be widespread in the mammalian world but few other mammals share the almost naked skin of humans. The darker the human's skin, the less it can manufacture Vitamin D3.
Other organisms
Human biology also encompasses all those organisms that live on or in the human body. Such organisms range from
parasite insects such as
and
, parasitic
such as
through to bacterial and viral pathogens. Many of the organisms associated with human biology are the specialised biome in the large intestine and the biotic flora of the skin and pharyngeal and nasal region. Many of these biotic assemblages help protect humans from harm and assist in digestion, and are now known to have complex effects on mood, and well-being.
Social behaviour
Humans in all
are social animals and use their language skills and tool making skills to communicate.
These communication skills enable civilizations to grow and allow for the production of art, literature and music, and for the development of technology. All of these are wholly dependent on the human biological specialisms.
The deployment of these skills has allowed the human race to dominate the terrestrial biome
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