Sunday, July 04, 2004

Deceptively Sharp Edge

The brain.  Why are human brains so large, comparatively speaking, when compared to other primates, and other critters in the animal kingdom?  Are humans’ large brains, typically very under-utilized, simply the result of a genetic or evolutionary fluke, or is some other factor, or item, the culprit?

In an interesting article written by Carl Zimmer, titled “Machivallian Monkeys," Zimmer alerts us to recent research by primatologists which suggests humans’ large brain size is the result of the knife.

"It was only after hominoids began making butchering tools out of stones and got a steady supply of meat from carcasses that the brain began to expand."

And don’t forget the deception, to keep a sharp edge.

Via triticale.

Posted by John Venlet on 07/04 at 01:42 PM
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