Sex Hormones and Human Evolution

Human evolution is characterized by a dramatic
volume and complexity increase of brain which origin
higher cognitive abilities. In this work, we suggest
the hypothesis that small genetic alterations,
associated with endocrine metabolic advantages,
could explain human brain evolution. Changes in
metabolism of neuroactive hormones, i.e, tiroid and
sex hormones that are responsible for brain function
and development, may possibly explain not only
higher human intelligence but also others human
phenotypic characteristics. In this sense, we argue
that principal genes of human intelligence are
localized in the X chromosome and are related to
neuroactive hormones metabolism. Thus, the aim of
our investigation is to understand some
issues in biological anthropology that are not yet
well clarified such as why human babies are so fat,
why human parturition is so painful and why men tend
to marry women who are more intelligent than
themselves. In a first analysis, the results
of our studies seeming to support the endocrine
changes hypothesis for the human evolution.

Auteur

Hamilton Correia is a professor of human biology. Has developed research at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, in human evolution and lifespan extension. Sandra Balseiro is a professor of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics at S.School Health of Castelo Branco. Has several peer-reviewed publications in the field of human genetics.

Texte du rabat

Human evolution is characterized by a dramatic volume and complexity increase of brain which origin higher cognitive abilities. In this work, we suggest the hypothesis that small genetic alterations, associated with endocrine metabolic advantages, could explain human brain evolution. Changes in metabolism of neuroactive hormones, i.e, tiroid and sex hormones that are responsible for brain function and development, may possibly explain not only higher human intelligence but also others human phenotypic characteristics. In this sense, we argue that principal genes of human intelligence are localized in the X chromosome and are related to neuroactive hormones metabolism. Thus, the aim of our investigation is to understand some issues in biological anthropology that are not yet well clarified such as why human babies are so fat, why human parturition is so painful and why men tend to marry women who are more intelligent than themselves. In a first analysis, the results of our studies seeming to support the endocrine changes hypothesis for the human evolution.