The Body: A Guide for Occupants

Briefly define the three main theories of aging, and explain how telomeres contribute to growing old. 

What was a radical mastectomy, and what new theory about the spread of cancer caused it to be abandoned? Why would this new theory lead to such a change in practice? 

Describe two reasons why drug trials often fail to produce viable medicines, and propose a solution for each of these problems.

Explain what a vaccine is and what an antibiotic is. How are they used differently in dealing with communicable diseases?

Briefly describe two ways that bipedal locomotion can cause physiological problems in humans, and explain why those problems occur less often in four-legged animals.

What are the three most common causes of death today among the elderly in Western countries, and what steps can people take to reduce their exposure to these maladies?

Why does the throat cause humans to choke more than any other animal? What anatomical feature does this attribute of the throat protect, and why is that feature so important to humans? 

Why do human mothers suffer so much pain during childbirth? What attribute of the infant serves to reduce the pain and risk? What feature of vaginal birth confers health benefits on the baby, benefits unavailable to them from Cesarean section?