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We have a short omnivore intestine and many of the plants our primate ancestors ate would give you a very bad stomach ache. We don't look like other predators
by partyboat1586 6y ago
We have a short omnivore intestine and many of the plants our primate ancestors ate would give you a very bad stomach ache.
We don't look like other predators because our main weapon is our brain and tools rather than claws and strength. We also cook our meat which means we need less powerful jaws and less sharp teeth. Keep in mind that you still have incisors and canines specifically for eating meat. You could even run your tongue along then right now and feel how sharp they are.
- bsima 6y agoThis is correct. The Expensive Tissue Hypothesis of brain/gut development pretty clearly shows that a switch to eating meat and hunting coincided with a shortening of our intestines and enlarging of our brain, making us human.
- commonoddity 6y agoIncorrect. ETH postulates that there could be a correlation between gut length and brain development, the paper explicitly states that there could be an alternative methodology for how we manage the metabolic requirements for our brains. Back to the point on humans having canines. Herbivores also have canines to tear through fibrous plant material see (gorilla, baboon and hippo).
- triyambakam 6y agoGorillas and hippos also have canines. It's not a good heuristic. Try tearing the flesh off an animal with your canines
- partyboat1586 6y agoFair point. Though we do cook our meat so don't need to tear raw flesh.