Please answer these 3 questions you can look into this link for the questions ht
ID: 3517438 • Letter: P
Question
Please answer these 3 questions you can look into this link for the questions http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/evolution/origins-bipedalism.html
1. Which of the hypotheses explaining bipedalism discussed in the NOVA interactive seem most plausible to you, and why?
2. Is it possible to test any of the hypotheses on the evolution of bipedalism? What types of evidence (fossil record, reconstruction of ancient environments, tool use, etc) would be useful in evaluating the various hypotheses?
3. What disadvantages or negative side effects are there to bipedal walking? Do we suffer any health effects that can be attributed to the stresses of walking upright?
Explanation / Answer
1.ans.The most plausible hypotheses explaining bipedalism can be attributed to attracting mates.The species pool thrives on the functional unit of reproduction.This aspect is explained by bipedalism which armed the males with the ability to provide nutritious food for their mates and offspring vis-a-vis protecting them from impending dangers. This is the most plausible explanation for this functional trait.Eventually, bipedalism freed the upper body portion which helped moving upright across grasslands and procuring food from high areas of the flora.
2.ans.Based on the theory above , researchers had come to the conclusion that a mutualism is effected in this study where males provided quality food for their mates and their young .As a favour in return,the females mated exclusively with those male providers. In order to hone the skill of a successful provider, males needed their upper portion of the body to be free ;specifically their arms and hands ;which aided in carrying food.This way, bipedalism set in. This bipedalism hypotheses was tried out in a group of chimpanzees which began to walk bipedally when in possession of quality and nutritious food.The fossil record offers valuable links to origins of bipedalism which helps us to identify the species ancestry with respect to modern humans. The most discussed species to date for early bipedalism is found in Australopithecus afarensis, a species that lived between 4-2.8 million years ago. The postcrania of this species shows the lower limb (hip, knee, and foot )morphology as distinctive features of bipedalism.
3.ans.Bipedal walking/motion in the long run may attribute to strenuous back injuries, ranging from slipped disks to arthritis.Moreover,lifting of heavy object in upright posture renders another negative impact to walking upright which puts substantial strain on the lower back. Varicose veins(gnarled/swelled condition ) are a direct effect of bipedalism since circulatory system move blood from the legs to the heart.