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Evolution of human growth prolongation

S R Leigh1, P B Park

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA. s-leigh@uiuc.edu

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|November 20, 1998
PubMed
Summary
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Human growth periods show varied extensions, with early stages prolonged and later stages reduced, challenging simple models of ontogeny. This suggests complex, heterogeneous changes in human development patterns.

Area of Science:

  • Anthropology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Existing hypotheses on human ontogeny prolongation are often ill-defined.
  • Competing models include homogeneous extension, heterogeneous extension, and an "insertion" hypothesis for human childhood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Evaluate models explaining human ontogeny temporal retardation and prolongation.
  • Contrast homogeneity, heterogeneity, and insertion hypotheses of growth period extension.
  • Refine causal models for human growth prolongation.

Main Methods:

  • Allometric analyses of body mass growth data from 21 anthropoid primate species.
  • Comparison of human ontogenetic patterns with those of other primates.
  • Statistical analysis of growth period correlations.

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Main Results:

  • Human ontogenies (male and female) deviate from, but are not uniformly exceptional to, other primates.
  • Derived changes in human growth are heterogeneous: early periods prolonged, later periods reduced.
  • High variability in early growth attributes (rates, timing, size-for-age) across primates suggests independence of growth phases.

Conclusions:

  • Minimal distinctions exist between heterogeneous extension and insertion hypotheses.
  • Human growth prolongation may involve derived changes in brain development patterns.
  • Metabolic factors may influence human ontogeny, but do not fully explain temporal retardation.