Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Altruism01:03

Altruism

Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.
Metabolic Rate01:25

Metabolic Rate

The human body is a powerhouse of energy, with every cell performing numerous functions that require energy. This energy production and consumption is measured by the metabolic rate, which quantifies the total heat generated by all the body's chemical reactions and mechanical work. This measurement helps to determine the rate of kilocalorie (kcal) consumption needed to fuel all ongoing activities.
The Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) measures the energy expended at rest.
Several factors influence the...
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
Energy Budgets00:51

Energy Budgets

Organisms must balance energy intake with the energy required for growth, maintenance and reproduction. These trade-offs result in a variety of survivorship and reproductive strategies, including semelparity and iteroparity. Semelparous species, like annual plants, have only one reproductive episode in their lifetimes and consequently have short lifespans. Iteroparous species, by contrast, have many reproductive events during their lifetimes but have relatively few offspring. These two...
Optimal Foraging00:48

Optimal Foraging

How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
Metabolic States of the Body: The Postabsorptive State01:18

Metabolic States of the Body: The Postabsorptive State

The postabsorptive state usually starts about four hours after a meal and lasts until the next meal is eaten. During this time, the digestive system stops absorbing nutrients, and the body uses stored energy reserves to maintain stable blood glucose levels.
Initially, glycogen stored in the liver is broken down to release glucose into the bloodstream, while glycogen in the muscles is broken down to supply glucose for energy directly within the muscle cells. As glycogen stores diminish,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Cognitive demands of bipedal locomotion during human foraging.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2026
Same author

Increased Vulnerability to Dehydration Due to Heat Stress and Drought Across Reproductive States for Pastoralist Women in Northern Kenya.

American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council·2026
Same author

Real-time heart rate in the wild: remote collection of cardiac data in baboons using a low-power Bluetooth and LoRaWAN system.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Energy constraint on human health.

Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2026
Same author

Using insertable cardiac monitors to test determinants of heart rate and activity in captive baboons.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

The evidence for constrained total energy expenditure in humans and other animals.

Current biology : CB·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Development of a Mobile Mitochondrial Physiology Laboratory for Measuring Mitochondrial Energetics in the Field
08:54

Development of a Mobile Mitochondrial Physiology Laboratory for Measuring Mitochondrial Energetics in the Field

Published on: August 27, 2021

Metabolic hypothesis for human altriciality.

Holly M Dunsworth1, Anna G Warrener, Terrence Deacon

  • 1Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 31, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Human birth timing is not limited by pelvic structure, contrary to the obstetrical dilemma hypothesis. Maternal metabolic limits, not pelvic constraints, primarily shape human gestation and altriciality.

More Related Videos

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
08:06

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice

Published on: November 27, 2019

Multi-Tracer Studies of Brain Oxygen and Glucose Metabolism Using a Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Scanner
08:36

Multi-Tracer Studies of Brain Oxygen and Glucose Metabolism Using a Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Scanner

Published on: June 7, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Development of a Mobile Mitochondrial Physiology Laboratory for Measuring Mitochondrial Energetics in the Field
08:54

Development of a Mobile Mitochondrial Physiology Laboratory for Measuring Mitochondrial Energetics in the Field

Published on: August 27, 2021

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice
08:06

Assessment of the Metabolic Effects of Isocaloric 2:1 Intermittent Fasting in Mice

Published on: November 27, 2019

Multi-Tracer Studies of Brain Oxygen and Glucose Metabolism Using a Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Scanner
08:36

Multi-Tracer Studies of Brain Oxygen and Glucose Metabolism Using a Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Scanner

Published on: June 7, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary anthropology
  • Human biology
  • Reproductive science

Background:

  • The obstetrical dilemma hypothesis posits that pelvic constraints dictate human gestation length and altriciality.
  • This classic theory suggests a trade-off between large neonatal brains and bipedalism-adapted pelvic structure.
  • Existing explanations for human altriciality often overlook comparative life history data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To challenge the prevailing obstetrical dilemma hypothesis.
  • To investigate the primary evolutionary drivers of human gestation length and altriciality.
  • To re-evaluate the role of pelvic morphology versus other factors in human birth timing.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of human life history data.
  • Examination of evidence linking pelvic morphology to gestation.
  • Re-analysis of factors influencing fetal growth and birth timing.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests pelvic morphology is not the primary constraint on human gestation.
  • Maternal metabolic limitations appear to be the key factor controlling gestation length and fetal growth.
  • While pelvic changes occurred, they show little evidence of altering birth timing.

Conclusions:

  • The obstetrical dilemma, based on pelvic constraints, is an insufficient explanation for human altriciality.
  • Maternal metabolic capacity is the principal determinant of human gestation length.
  • Human birth timing is shaped by metabolic limits, not solely by pelvic structure.