Book description
Working with principles from the fields of evolutionary and
developmental biology (evo-devo), this fascinating work offers a new
approach to analyzing child growth and development, examining each
stage and transition in detail, from fetal development to
preadulthood. Based on the author's in-depth review of the current
literature and his own observations as a pediatric endocrinologist,
the book demonstrates how the transitions between human life history
phases represent unique periods of evolutionary adaptive response to
the environment. In addition, the author explains why an understanding
of these transition periods enables us to better understand the
sequence and mechanisms of child growth as well as to better diagnose
child growth disorders.
Logically organized and clearly written, Evo-Devo of Child Growth:
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Sets a solid foundation of principles such as evolutionary
thinking in medicine and child growth, life history theory, and
heterochrony and allometry
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Examines the relationship between child growth and the theory of
life history
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Applies evo-devo theory to fetal growth, infancy, childhood,
juvenility, adolescence, and preadulthood
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Explores the trade-offs and adaptive phenotypic plasticity during
transition periods
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Explains the role of life history theory in understanding and
diagnosing growth disorders such as Down syndrome, Noonan
syndrome, and Silver-Russell syndrome
In addition to the author's own analysis and observations, this book
also features notes from leading clinicians and evolutionary
biologists, offering additional perspectives on the relationship
between evo-devo and child growth and development.
Evo-Devo of Child Growth provides a new perspective for evolutionary
biologists to understand the phases and transitions of child growth.
Moreover, it offers a new approach to help clinicians to better
understand and diagnose a broad range of child growth disorders.
