A Survey In Biological Science

The Human Organism and the World of Life Harper Brothers New York London A Survey in Biological Science by Clarenpe f-Young Assistant Professor of Psychology, Colgate University G. Ledyard Stebbins Junior Geneticist, Experiment Station, University of California and Clarence John Hylander Assistant Professor of Botany, Colgate University Illustrations by Clarence John Hylander Contents PREFACE vii INTRODUCTION i PART I MAINTENANCE AND SURVIVAL L THE SUBSTANCE AND STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN BODY 5 II. METABOLISM 23 III. CIRCULATION AND RESPIRATION IN THE HUMAN BODY 40 IV. DIGESTION, ASSIMILATION, AND EXCRE TION IN THE HUMAN BODY 66 V. MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS IN ANIMALS 92 VI. THE BODIES OF PLANTS in VII. THE WEB OF LIFE 129 VIII. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 147 IX. FUNCTIONAL DISEASES 171 PART II REPRODUCTION, INHERITANCE AND DESCENT X. HUMAN REPRODUCTION 189 v XL REPRODUCTION IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS 221 XII. THE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE 250 XIII. THE PRINCIPLES OF HEREDITY 263 XIV. THE FACT OF EVOLUTION 292 XV. THE OUTCOME OF EVOLUTION 329 XVI. WHAT CAUSES EVOLUTION 368 XVII. HUMAN EVOLUTION 392 vi Contents PART III BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL ACTIVITY XVIII. THE RESPONSE SYSTEM THE EFFECTORS 411 XIX. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 423 XX. THE SENSE ORGANS 444 XXI. INTERNAL ADJUSTMENTS 463 XXII. BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL ACTIVITY 478 XXIII. GROWTH RESPONSES IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS 506 XXIV. MOVEMENT RESPONSES IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS 519 XXV. THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR 544 XXVI. THE BEHAVIOR OF THE INDIVIDUAL 566 XXVII. MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH 598 CONCLUSION 620 APPENDIX I THE CLASSIFICATION OF ORGANISMS 625 APPENDIX II THE BRANCHES OF BIO LOGICAL SCIENCE 629 SUGGESTED READING 634 INDEX 639 Preface Almost a decade ago, as apart of a general plan of curricular reorganization, there was instituted at Colgate University a sur vey course in biological sciences which was made a part of the work of every Colgate freshman. Its aim was to give every stu dent a broad view of scientific knowledge concerning the processes of life and in furtherance of that aim it was planned that it should include a survey of the mental activities occurring in or ganisms as well as the processes that have more traditionally been included within the realm of biological science. This book is the outcome of our experience in teaching this course. In its present form it is the result of much experimentation, throughout which one question has remained uppermost in our minds How can this course and this book be made to yield the utmost pos sible value to the freshman student Our most important discovery has been that the student is primarily interested in the life process as it displays itself in his own species, and we have come to the conclusion that this is not only a natural but a thoroughly wholesome prejudice on his part. For human life, ones own life and that of ones companions, is surely the aspect of the biological process that is of most profound importance to every man and woman and if one is to spend only a brief period in the study of biological science, one will certainly put in his time to best advantage in securing as good an under standing as possible of the ways of life among his own kind. This centering of attention upon the human organism does not necessarily make for a narrowness of outlook. In the first place, the picture of human life cannot be complete unless it includes within it a portrayal of the relationshipbetween the species Homo sapiens and the whole organic world. Secondly, the activity of protoplasmic systems is much the same throughout the two bio logical kingdoms, and a comprehension of the workings of one organism provides the key to the understanding of all. Hence, our account shifts back and forth from detailed description of human processes to less detailed comparison with the structure and function of plants and animals...