RE: Caesarian births directly affecting human evolution
December 7, 2016 at 1:04 am
(This post was last modified: December 7, 2016 at 1:08 am by Anomalocaris.)
(December 6, 2016 at 12:46 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Human evolution in the Darwinian sense has been screwed since Homo Erectus began caring for injured members of the group. We have skeletal remains showing healed leg fractures going back over a million years bp. In order for that person to survive long enough to have the bone heal other members of the group/clan had to take care of him. Other animals simply do not do that. If a lion is injured in a hunt it either lives or dies on its own.
False. The caring of those with a broken bone is probably reflective of heritable behavioral trait which enhances the social support network of the bearer of the trait, which confers a survival advantage upon the bearer. This is Darwinian evolution red in tooth and claw, as evidenced by most human societies now having hospitals.
(December 6, 2016 at 5:32 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: Caesarean births are leading to the genes preventing vaginal birth not being eradicated. This means that a higher and higher percentage of births need to be by C section.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-the-papers-38214665
Yes, but it probably also allowed more babies with more highly developed brains to not die with their mothers at the moment of birth.
