From: Damien R. Sullivan (phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu)
Date: Fri Dec 18 1998 - 19:43:40 MST
>From another list:
On Dec 18, 9:55am, Alix Herrmann wrote:
> Subject: Re: Sex appeal (fwd)
> > At 08:04 AM 12/18/98 -0800, Myfanwy Galadriel Truth Callahan wrote:
> > >
> > >Well, ok, so we were never marsupials. Marsupials and placentals branched
> > >off at some point. But the major constraint in human evolution at this
> > >point is cranial vs. hip size. I mean, for a species whose primary
> > >advantage is a large head, why did that evolve in placental mammals where
> > >you have to birth the thing nearly fully developed? Why not give birth to
> > >a peanut sized fetus and carry the thing around for a few months? I'd
> > >much rather do that than try to pass something the size of a grapefruit!
>
> Luckily we're now devolving to this point. Finer medical establishments
> can now keep preemies alive even when really tiny, like only a couple
> pounds.
>
> And, conveniently, the mother no longer needs to carry the life-support
> contraption around herself. Fetal care can be left to more qualified
> medical staff until the fetus has matured sufficiently to withstand care
> by amateur parents.
>
> Put this together with elective C-section and there should be no more head
> size problem. In the future, will female hip sizes shrink? Will those
> genius babies with giant brains soon be among us? Bzzt!
-xx- Damien X-)
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