Thyroid Hormone Signalling in Human Evolution and Disease: A Novel Hypothesis.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Paleoanthropology

Background:

• Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling is a conserved pathway regulating organismal development, metabolism, and homeostasis.
• Understanding the evolutionary trajectory of TH signaling offers insights into human adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the natural history of thyroid hormone (TH) signaling.
• To evaluate the role of TH signaling in human evolution.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of paleoecological and palaeoanthropological evidence.
• Examination of modern human physiology data.

Main Results:

• TH signaling likely played a critical role in facilitating adaptive responses of early hominids to challenging environments.
• Ancient roles of TH signaling are conserved in modern humans, aiding adaptation to contemporary stresses.

Conclusions:

• TH signaling has been integral to human evolutionary adaptation.
• TH signaling remains vital for adapting to modern environmental and pathophysiological challenges.
• TH signaling represents a promising therapeutic target for adaptation-related conditions.