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Adolescence is a turbulent period to live through. Marking the transition from the world of childhood to adult life, the adolescent faces many challenges and opportunities, including puberty, cognitive changes, forming their own identity, relating to often conflicting demands from parents and peers, and negotiating first romantic relationships. Adolescence: A Very Short Introduction provides a guide to the classical research that has informed our knowledge on adolescence, as well as the results of modern research into the contemporary adolescent experience. It also examines a number of aspects of adolescence, including the cultural and historical context, the biological changes to the adolescent brain, and the controversies that adolescence brings.Less

Molecular biology is the story of the molecules of life, their relationships, and how these interactions are controlled. Its applications are wide and growing; the power of molecular biology can now be harnessed to treat diseases, solve crimes, map human history, and produce genetically modified organisms and crops. Starting with the building blocks established by Darwin, Wallace, and Mendel, and the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, Molecular Biology: A Very Short Introduction considers the wide range of applications for molecular biology today, including the development of new drugs and DNA fingerprinting, and looks forward to two key areas of evolving research: personalized medicine and synthetic biology.Less

Knowledge of the basic construction of the human body—the skeleton, the organs of the chest and abdomen, the nervous system, the head and neck with its sensory systems and anatomy for breathing and swallowing—is vital for anyone studying medicine, biology, and health studies. Human Anatomy: A Very Short Introduction provides a clear, concise, and accessible introduction to the structure, function, and main systems of the human body, including a number of clear and simple illustrations to explain the key areas. Some aspects of human evolution are also considered to show how and why the human body has developed as it has.Less