Why do human beings have larger intseatinr compared to animals?
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Hello friend...
The question is interesting because it totally depends on how far you go back and what stage of evolution you are considering humans. For this discussion it is important to know some landmarks: our genus, Homo, evolved 2 million years ago while our species, Homo sapiens, evolved 200,000 years ago. It is also important to note that the truth is muddled as to what diet our prehistoric ancestors followed. But the means for finding evidence are pretty interesting.
Based on recent studies that analyze the carbon footprints of specimens from that time period, scientists have evidence that our genus began separating their diets from the common ape some 3.5 million years ago. Obviously at this time our diet resembled the common ape and was restricted to a herbivore diet. With evolution, however, scientists believe this species began to walk more upright and to broaden their diet. A broadened diet meant that they didn't have to hang out in trees as much! They could start eating more grassy foods from drier, more open savannas. They could also travel more instead of being limited to forested areas as common apes are.
Evolution kept creating a more fit species. The more variation in a species diet the better off it will be in growing its populations in diverse areas.
Homo sapiens developed, naturally, the ability to eat fruits, vegetables, and meats. Then with the advent of agriculture - the cultivation of plants, animals, or other life - our species was able to accrue massive amounts of energy from our food. You can see how this development played hand in hand with the development of larger brains. With a good nutritious meal you can spend more time thinking up new ways to even more efficiently procure new food, build establishments, and eventually brew beer. :)
So, in response to the question, (finally) yeah I guess we were naturally herbivores. But now we are omnivores! So it almost is arbitrary to base your current diet off of a prescribed diet for a species we evolved from millions of years ago. We evolved to being as efficient as possible with our diet. And being as versatile as possible with what you eat is pretty convenient for survival.
Some people may choose to be vegans, vegetarians, or pescarians; but that doesn't change the anatomy of our species. Of course, you can do whatever you want and live whatever lifestyle you want. The important fact is that it is a lifestyle choice not an evolutionary one.
Hope this helps you...
The question is interesting because it totally depends on how far you go back and what stage of evolution you are considering humans. For this discussion it is important to know some landmarks: our genus, Homo, evolved 2 million years ago while our species, Homo sapiens, evolved 200,000 years ago. It is also important to note that the truth is muddled as to what diet our prehistoric ancestors followed. But the means for finding evidence are pretty interesting.
Based on recent studies that analyze the carbon footprints of specimens from that time period, scientists have evidence that our genus began separating their diets from the common ape some 3.5 million years ago. Obviously at this time our diet resembled the common ape and was restricted to a herbivore diet. With evolution, however, scientists believe this species began to walk more upright and to broaden their diet. A broadened diet meant that they didn't have to hang out in trees as much! They could start eating more grassy foods from drier, more open savannas. They could also travel more instead of being limited to forested areas as common apes are.
Evolution kept creating a more fit species. The more variation in a species diet the better off it will be in growing its populations in diverse areas.
Homo sapiens developed, naturally, the ability to eat fruits, vegetables, and meats. Then with the advent of agriculture - the cultivation of plants, animals, or other life - our species was able to accrue massive amounts of energy from our food. You can see how this development played hand in hand with the development of larger brains. With a good nutritious meal you can spend more time thinking up new ways to even more efficiently procure new food, build establishments, and eventually brew beer. :)
So, in response to the question, (finally) yeah I guess we were naturally herbivores. But now we are omnivores! So it almost is arbitrary to base your current diet off of a prescribed diet for a species we evolved from millions of years ago. We evolved to being as efficient as possible with our diet. And being as versatile as possible with what you eat is pretty convenient for survival.
Some people may choose to be vegans, vegetarians, or pescarians; but that doesn't change the anatomy of our species. Of course, you can do whatever you want and live whatever lifestyle you want. The important fact is that it is a lifestyle choice not an evolutionary one.
Hope this helps you...
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