BBC Focus Magazine

[Shadowwolf]

Most of us walk and carry items in our hands every day. These are seemingly simple activities that the majority of us don't question. But an international team of researchers, including Brian Richmond at the George Washington University, have discovered that human bipedalism, or walking upright, may have originated millions of years ago as an adaptation to carrying scarce, high-quality resources. This latest research was published in this month's Current Biology.

The team of researchers from the U.S., England, Japan and Portugal investigated the behavior of modern-day chimpanzees as they competed for food resources, in an effort to understand what ecological settings would lead a large ape -- one that resembles the 6 million-year old ancestor we shared in common with living chimpanzees -- to walk on two legs.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120323134409.htm

[MikeG]

I think the initial theory that man became bipedal, was to spot enemies or carnivores in the tall grasses of Africa makes more sense. The fact that we took advantage of utilizing our hands differently once they were freed up, is a sign of our intelligence and adaptability.

[M Paul Lloyd]

Perhaps no one single influence was responsible but rather a whole series of conditions came to getter to make us bi-pedal??
We stood upright in the tall grass and carried stuff with us so we could hunt more effectively and run from predators (or the in-laws ) all at the same time?
PossiblY?

[Lateralman]

Alternatively, perhaps it was when we decided to juggle coconuts, which brought on the rapid change.

Naa, I agree it is probably down to a number of reasons, and many unknown past environmental conditions.

The big question is, why hasn’t many other forms of life adopted this upright stance if sharing the same living conditions as our furry family?

Where are the bi-pedal rabbits, squirrels, mice? Was Miss Potter really making it all up?

[M Paul Lloyd]

Probably because many other species would not benefit from being bi-pedal Lateral?
Even a Kangaroo is technically a therapod and Meerkats only stand on two legs for defencive reasons.
Some Primates will walk upright for short periods but as for full on bi-pedal perambulation I think humans are pretty unique?
Unless I've missed something?
Nails probably has a better insight into this one mind.

[Lateralman]

True Mr Lloyd, but what about those who gather up and carry large amounts of food held in their mouths to be stored for a later winters date or even regurgitated for their young.

Why didn’t we evolve to try that? I find this uniqueness, odd.

[Shadowwolf]

Different conditions, different outcomes.

Remember, it's what works best for continued survival that matters.

[Lateralman]

Correct Mr Wolf, necessity is as they say the mother of invention.

Nevertheless, given that it was so far back in time and given that many animals are very good at mimicry. In addition, given that we might have some idea of the environment and of the kind of animals that walked along side our ancestors at the time.
Has anyone looked at this problem from this perspective? From thinking about the possibility that our early ancestors may have mimicked, many of the animals sharing their habitat?

Who’s to say we did not once regurgitate our food to feed our young just like the wolf?

Monkey see monkey do.

[Lateralman]

Anyhow, so as I was saying, I was thinking in terms of our relatives the incredible San/Hottentots people who have bodies shaped by their environmental needs.

A prime example of human survival adaptation, to their arid surroundings.

With these adaptations happening in a relatively 'short time' period how can we be sure that what we observe now is relevant to what led us to walk upright.

The San are wonderful mimics of nature; perhaps someone should try asking them.

[M Paul Lloyd]

I think it is important to bear in mind that different individuals are quite capable of independantly having the same 'good idea' without recourse to mimickry.

[Lateralman]

The same good idea, that lasted for a period of six million years!

Funnily enough, I cannot quite envisage that happening somehow.

[M Paul Lloyd]

To be honest Lateral, that does not surprise me.

[Lateralman]

Mr Lloyd, I ask you a simple question.

After millions of years of side-by-side evolution, why haven’t the chimpanzees evolved to walk like us?

[Shadowwolf]

After millions of years of side-by-side evolution, why haven’t the chimpanzees evolved to walk like us?

How do you know they're currently not?

That possibility aside, they have not thus far evolved bipedalism because what they've been doing has been more than adequate to ensure the necessary continuation of the species as they are, and no alternate has thus far been more successful than their peers.

Evolution is not a teleological process leading inexorably towards intelligence so there should be no expectation that just because one primate went that way, all primates should have done likewise.

[M Paul Lloyd]

Mr Lloyd, I ask you a simple question.

After millions of years of side-by-side evolution, why haven’t the chimpanzees evolved to walk like us?

Forgive me Lateral I missed this but I have been a bit distracted of late, however Mr.S has it pretty well covered, indeed you could as easily ask why after 390 million years of evolution are sharks not flying around the galaxy in spaceships? it's because they don't have any need to.

[MikeG]

I was reading an interesting article recently, which claims that chimps, humans, and gorillas were still interbreeding up to 1,000,000 years ago.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02158.html

If that's correct, then I'm also inclined to be surprised that we managed to deviate to such a large extent over such a short (in evolutionary terms) space of time.

[Lateralman]

Hello Mr Wolf.

If they were following the same evolutionary path, that would mean that all of them have taken a wrong turn.

However, I repeat, why didn’t all the varied primates evolved like us? Why was it only one of the many species of primate that packed its bags and wandered away from the jungle?

Where we not intelligent enough to compete???

Why are they researching chimpanzees? When they in the same environment as ourselves failed to take the same evolutionary path?

Did none of us interbreed then? For we do now. Why is it acceptable to suggest that we evolved from the apes?

Is that correct or could there be an entirely different answer?

[Shadowwolf]

Where have you been, AiG?

Like I said:

Evolution is not a teleological process leading inexorably towards intelligence so there should be no expectation that just because one primate went that way, all primates should have done likewise.

You may as well ask, given the origins of all life from single celled organisms, why every living thing is not identical?

The common ancestor between us and chimps did not result in homo sapiens on side and chimps on the other, it was a long time before either modern incarnation came along.

Why is it acceptable to suggest that we evolved from the apes?

Because that's what the scientific evidence indicates.

If that's correct, then I'm also inclined to be surprised that we managed to deviate to such a large extent over such a short (in evolutionary terms) space of time.

I may be horribly simplifying it but all we needed was one unique deviation that led to another and so on, a deviation that no other primate had or could make successful use of.

Also, don't forget that there were a number of other groups on a similar path that nonetheless did not go the distance, like Neanderthals

[MikeG]

Also, don't forget that there were a number of other groups on a similar path that nonetheless did not go the distance, like Neanderthals

Good point Shadow. Off the top of my head, we can add the Red Deer Cave people in China, and the "Hobbits" in Indonesia.

[Lateralman]

Hey, no one makes a monkey out of me. 'AiG' very funny.

Yeah right, you guessed it I am working undercover for them up a palm tree and I’ve just run out of bananas.

Hang on! Could this be the reason for our bipedal evolution, ‘The Great Prehistoric Banana Famine?’

Leaving us, little option but to climb down, jump on our bikes and bipedal off to the green grocers?

Anyhow, this is interesting but I think we are missing a trick. That there is a massive gap, in the time this occurred, and our comprehension of it.

This gap may have ‘initially’ had nothing to do with gathering food. For as the article states, they have been observing monkeys doing that right now. So after millions of years of evolution you would have thought that they would have progressed on to pushing shopping trolleys, plastic bags and the likes.

In fairness, before getting up to any monkey business, it may be advisable to read about this fascinating topic when published. Perhaps it will be a future feature in Focus.