Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 18/02/2009 20:14:22
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Dear Hirsuteologists,
See, Mr I. Avoidmoonlight here,
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He's an exception to the question that follows...clearly he is the product of the union betwixt his mother and Carpet !
Though, when we swung through the trees I am assuming that we were even furry-er than Mr I. Avoidmoonlight. so.
Why did we evolve to be less hairy ?
simple enuff eh ?
I hope so, because I don't have a clue !!..I don't !!
Hope ewe can help me.
mwah mwah
neil
I have a furry belly
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Well......I have a furry *.....*? LOL
Seriously Hair on our body was for warmth and protection from elements and other stuff Kind of Helped filter out foreign material from invading our bodies....
so I think since we became a society of clothed well housed sheltered bodies we have evolved minus the hair growth we once had..
Clothing rubs hair off and shelters keep us warmer as do our clothing... heaters fires etc... so I have a therory that one who would once again be exposed for years on end may actually naturally adapt back to a hairier exterior in order to accomodate to our enviorments in an attempt to keep warm shelter our body from enviromental elements etc......
yes, also our hair thickens in the winter and sheds in the spring and summer!
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To expand a little on what Karen said, having fur to keep you warm is a huge advantage, probably the reason our primate cousins still have their fur. But, humans being as clever as we are learned how to use fire, clothing, shelter, and even the skin of other animals to keep ourselves warm during the night. This somewhat makes a thick coat of fur a tad redundant, if a mutation occured where an individual had less hair it probably wouldn't effect them so much in terms of warmth (In Africa anyway, which is where we are thought to have first evolved), they might use an extra log on the fire or build a better tent. But during the day there are advantages to being able to keep cool, such as during intense hunting (not only is skin less insulative than fur but one can perspire easier). There's also the advantage of having less hair for fleas and ticks and other parasites to hide in. So hair would gradually become less predominant.
I've noticed for myself that a certain amount of body hair can be useful, i've got pretty hairy legs and mosquitos only seem to ever bite me on my feet, meanwhile my less-haired friends are all whinging and complaining. No idea if that's an actual factor in why we still have some or not
I once heard that the use of pubic hair is to capture pheromones from around our pubic areas? But I also heard that humans don't really make any use of pheromones anymore. So I dunno what the go is there, any pheromone experts?
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There is a hypothesis that humans are not as hairy because they are neotenous: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoteny
Interestingly, we still have about as much hair as chimps, it's just finer and less dense.
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Mr I. Avoidmoonlight thinks he's got problems eh???
What about Miss Philipa Shave here:
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi158.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft117%2Fm_xmas99%2F244400812_8442b91ad5.jpg&hash=751e97195409b3da3dd283218baae1c2)
I go along with the idea that we don't need hair so much now because of our clothes, but why do we still have hair in some places (ahem.... well, you know where I mean, in the old unmentionables area for instance).
What about our bonce, why have we got a Barnet Fair? Wearing a hat doesn't necessarily mean you will turn into a slap-head. Then some people who don't wear a titfer-tat may go shiny on top. Is it in our genes? I don't think I've got a Homburg in my jeans.
Ah well! Hair today, gone tomorrow.
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Isn't her name Anita Shave?
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Isn't her name Anita Shave?
No, that's her sister, look:
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi261.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fii49%2Fellerytalmo%2FBeardedLady.jpg&hash=bbeafa2043f1bff7488c69eac2ff95a8)
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WTF!?!?!?!?!
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Thanks Awfully ewe lot !
I thought for a brief soupcon of a minute that this thread may attract some comical joviality but I was oh so wrong ! [;)]
My question is then...why did we put clothes on and just not grow thicker fur/hair ?
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SNAP !
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http://pilkipedia.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Image:S%26MWillieWonka.JPG
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What about our bonce, why have we got a Barnet Fair?
Semi-submerged-simians up to their necks in warm water wouldn't need fur on their body, only on their head & face.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquatic_ape_hypothesis
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1094657/PICTURED-The-Japanese-snow-monkeys-enjoy-hot-bath.html)
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why did we put clothes on and just not grow thicker fur/hair ?
Cause we're embarrassed to [:I][:I]
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Thanks Awfully ewe lot !
I thought for a brief soupcon of a minute that this thread may attract some comical joviality but I was oh so wrong ! [;)]
My question is then...why did we put clothes on and just not grow thicker fur/hair ?
I think that it had more to do with modesty or self awareness of our own sexuality..perhaps..an uneasiness with being exposed to others.. self consciousness, embarrassment etc..
Perhaps even comfort!
Makes me wonder who first shaved their face or any other hairy place...?
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LOL... What timing posted at the same time! LOL...
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Indeed. [:)]
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Makes me wonder who first shaved their face or any other hairy place...?
Whoever invented the razor blade!
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Razors have been identified from many Bronze Age cultures. These were made of bronze or obsidian and were generally oval in shape, with a small tang protruding from one of the short ends.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razor#Early_razors
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The Shaving Historical Timeline (http://www.quikshave.com/timeline.htm) is pretty good. [:)]