>A new study finds that the Ice-Age diet -- a high-protein intake of large animals -- triggered physical changes in Neanderthals, namely a larger ribcage and a wider pelvis.
Homo sapiens, the ancestor of modern humans, shared the planet with Neanderthals, a close, heavy-set relative that dwelled almost exclusively in Ice-Age Europe, until some 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals were similar to Homo sapiens, with whom they sometimes mated -- but they were different, too. Among these many differences, Neanderthals were shorter and stockier, with wider pelvises and rib-cages than their modern human counterparts.
But what accounted for these anatomical differences? A new Tel Aviv University study finds that the Ice-Age diet -- a high-protein intake of large animals -- triggered physical changes in Neanderthals, namely a larger ribcage and a wider pelvis.
According to the research, the bell-shaped Neanderthal rib-cage or thorax had to evolve to accommodate a larger liver, the organ responsible for metabolizing great quantities of protein into energy. This heightened metabolism also required an expanded renal system (enlarged bladder and kidneys) to remove large amounts of toxic urea, possibly resulting in a wide Neanderthal pelvis.
Seeing evolution from a new angle
"The anatomical differences between the thoraxes and pelvises of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals have been well-known for many years, but now we're approaching it from a new angle -- diet," said Prof. Avi Gopher. Prof. Gopher, Prof. Ran Barkai and PhD candidate Miki Ben-Dor, all of TAU's Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, co-authored the study, which was recently published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160329132245.htm
"During harsh Ice-Age winters, carbohydrates were scarce and fat was in limited supply. But large game, the typical prey of the Neanderthal, thrived," said Ben-Dor. "This situation triggered an evolutionary adaptation to a high-protein diet -- an enlarged liver, expanded renal system and their corresponding morphological manifestations. All of these contributed to the Neanderthal evolutionary process."
"In a 2011 paper, which dealt with the demise of Homo erectus in the Levant, we had already tapped into the notion that diet played a major role in human evolution," said Prof. Barkai. "We argued then that high fat consumption was one of the most important solutions to the predicament presented by human evolution. Humans are limited in the amount of protein they are able turn into energy -- protein provides just 30 percent of their overall diet. The solution, therefore, was to consume more fat and more carbohydrates when they were seasonally available.
"We found that, in the case of the Neanderthals, an acute shortage of carbohydrates and a limited availability of fat caused their biological adaptation to a high-protein diet."
The proof in the dietary pudding
Numerous animal experiments have already demonstrated that a high-protein diet is likely to produce enlarged livers and kidneys. "Early indigenous Arctic populations who primarily ate meat also displayed enlarged livers and the tendency to drink a lot of water, a sign of increased renal activity," said Ben-Dor.
According to the researchers, the total dependence of Neanderthals on large animals to answer their fat and protein needs may provide a clue to their eventual extinction, which took place at the same time as the beginning of the demise of giant animals or "Megafauna" in Europe some 50,000 years ago. The team is now researching this subject.
Literally who fucking cares
>>35150
They're just trying to beat Evolution into the heads of every human being. The right response is to ignore at all costs!
its pretty interesting to me, evolution aside
>>35182
>I believe that evolution is unprovable by the same philosophical argument that could be used to discount any other theory about the orgin story of the universe because I don't have a basic understanding of logical fallacies.
>>35216
imply in English, anon!
>>35182
>he fell for the 'evolution is a liberal invention' meme
>he fell for the 'you can't be a conservative and believe in evolution' meme
kek
Don't talk about Darwin or his theory ever again
>>35228
without considering evolution, the article is still interesting
It's amazing to me there are still fucktards who deny evolution. Especially after Genetics proved it true beyond any doubt. Hey, Creationists...it's over! Man up and deal with it!
>>35145
>high protein intake of large animals
>larger ribcage
>wider pelvis
So basically what you're telling me is that they were fat as fuck?
Sounds like I know what's in our future
>>35604
more like strong as fuck
>>35145
wtf no. paleo faggots
>>35516
>Especially after Genetics proved it true beyond any doubt.
>Genetics proved it
Oh fuck.
Look, I'm with you on evolution, but for fuck's sake don't babble shit you don't quite understand. It makes the rest of us look stupid.
All "genetics" shows is that mutations occur due to physical damage, mistakes during cell division and virally introduced segments of DNA, and that some organism's genomes are quite similar to others.
That's it.
From this we can infer quite a lot, with high probable accuracy, but we can't "prove" anything.
>>35929
Except for the fact that we have witnessed bacteria evolving in literally days to adapt to a new environment by monitoring changes in their genetic code.
>>35145
>Tel Aviv
http://i.imgur.com/RcLspBs.png
>>36557
Pure coincidence.
>>35182
>ignore at all costs!
In this case, the cost is going to be 99.9% of the world laughing at you.
