"Survival of the fattest" by SC Cunnane

SURVIVAL OF THE FATTEST
The Key to Human Brain Evolution
Stephen C Cunnane
Research Center on Aging
Université de Sherbrooke
Canada
http://www.worldscibooks.com/lifesci/5769.html
How did humans evolve larger and more sophisticated brains?
In general, evolution depends on a special combination of circumstances:
part genetics, part time, and part environment. In the case of human brain
evolution, the main environmental influence was adaptation to a 'shore-based'
diet, which provided the world's richest source of nutrition, as well as a
sedentary lifestyle that promoted fat deposition. Such a diet included
shellfish, fish, marsh plants, frogs, bird's eggs, etc. Humans and, and more
importantly, hominid babies started to get fat, a crucial distinction that
led to the development of larger brains and to the evolution of modern
humans. A larger brain is expensive to maintain and this increasing demand
for energy results in, succinctly, survival of the fattest.
Contents:
The Human Brain: Unique Yet Vulnerable:
Human Evolution: A Brief Overview
The Human Brain: Evolution of Larger Size and Plasticity
Defining Characteristics: Vulnerability and High Energy Requirement
Fatness in Human Babies: Insurance for the Developing Brain
Nutrition: The Key to Normal Human Brain Development
Iodine: The Primary Brain Selective Nutrient
Iron, Copper, Zinc and Selenium: The Other Brain Selective Minerals
Docosahexaenoic Acid: The Brain Selective Fatty Acid
The Shore-Based Scenario:
Genes, Brain Function and Human Brain Evolution
Bringing the Environment and Diet into Play
The Shore-Based Scenario: Why Survival Misses the Point
Earlier Versions
The Evidence
How Would It Work?
Survival of the Fattest


Readership:
General, and those with an interest in origins of humans, especially human
intelligence.

368pp
Pub.date: May 2005
ISBN 981-256-191-9
US$68 / £41
ISBN 981-256-318-0 pbk
US$32 / £20

Marc Verhaegen
http://www.onelist.com/community/AAT
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AAT1



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