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0:00
Hello, I'm Gillian Bentley
and I'm a Professor
of Biological Anthropology
at Durham University.
I'm going to be talking about
environmental effects
on human reproduction.
0:13
The purpose of my talk is
going to be to discuss
environmental effects
on human reproduction.
I'm going to focus
mainly on females
because that's the gender that
I have worked with for
most of my research.
I'm also going to place the talk
within the framework of
evolutionary medicine,
life history theory
and public health.
I'm going to be discussing
the health implications
versus the adaptive implications
of these environmental effects
on human reproduction.
Also, I'll talk about how
these effects might be
translated quickly
into human physiology.
0:48
What is life history theory?
Basically, this theory argues
that all of our energy
is divided between different
components such as
growth of whatever species
you're talking about
during a childhood
or juvenile period,
maintenance which is how you
just maintain yourself
from day to day.
That does include immune
function as well,
which is a very important
component for every species.
Then reproduction,a
which generally happens
during adulthood.
These allocations among
growth, maintenance,
including immune function,
and reproduction often
involve trade offs.
These can be
particularly prominent
when you are talking
about individuals that
might live in harsh and
stressful environments.
1:33
In talking about
environmental effects
on human reproduction
these include
not only the physical
effects of the environment,
it might be something
like harsh workloads,
nutritional stresses,
but also the social effects
on human reproduction.
Many disciplines are interested
in these environmental effects.
This can include medicine,
clinicians are obviously
very concerned
with what might affect
reproductive function.
Toxicologists might look at
how pollutants for example,
in the environment can
affect reproduction.
Physiologists are interested
in the basic workings of
the reproductive system.
Then social scientists
as well often look
at the components of lifestyle
and the complete
social environment
that can affect
reproduction as well.
Then human biologists that
overlap significantly
with all of these
other disciplines,
are those who are concerned
with human reproduction
and reproductive ecology.
In looking at the
environmental effects
