ANTH 1120 01 F21 - Biological Anthropology Lecture 7 - Google Docs.pdf

ANTH*1120 (01) F21 - Biological Anthropology Lecture 7
October 21,2021
Chapter 7
T
he Brain Game
● here is a huge gain in brain size with early Homo habilis and Homo erectus
● Brains use a lot of metabolic energy (20 percent of our total food energy intake); their genetic
costis very high.
Why would the brain increase so greatly in size?
● Meat and/ or cooking alters evolution. Protein scarcity vs. denser concentration in pre-food
production societies. Scavenging meat.
● With brains we invented stone tools, and tools brought us meat.
● Meat enabled human ancestors to develop a shorter gut; animal matter is easier to break down.
Australopithecines=big guts As meat availability and brain size increased, gut length decreased.
● Meat provided essential protein for brain growth and development
Evolutionary your brain is expensive
Your brain uses 20%-25% or your energy just to think
Progression of thinking
● Cooking meat was good, so you don't get poisoned and die(did cooking accelerate the growth of
the brain)
● Even if you choop the up tiny it is easier to digest
● Hard to prove
● Improvements in diet and food handling and safety