4 ms·

This isn't big news at all. Melanocyte-stimulating hormones have been known to stimulate sexual behavior since forever. Melanocortin receptors directly modulat

This isn't big news at all. Melanocyte-stimulating hormones have been known to stimulate sexual behavior since forever. Melanocortin receptors directly modulate sexual behavior. Melanocyte-stimulating hormone production is boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage. This has been known forever, too.

AuthorizedCust 4y ago
> boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage That wording supports a notion that the boosting is to encourage the most essential activity of a species—reproduction—in the face of potential harms that may shorten the opportunity for that activity (cancer-induced final exit). That said, I’m aware of counterarguments to the simplistic takes on “sun bad” messaging and think they have merit. Not trying to open a debate on the latter, just clarifying that I’m not trying to grind an ax with the first paragraph.
- sdwr 4y ago
  Thats what came to my mind too.
- whatshisface 4y ago
  There's no way that we evolved to chemically respond to an effect that takes fifty years to happen.
  - AuthorizedCust 4y ago
    Evolution is a long tail game. Over eons, any mutation conferring an increased likelihood of sustainable reproduction can “win”, including this one.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- treeman79 4y ago
  Sun exposure causes a severe inflammatory exposure for me. Spent a day at the beach and it was 7 months of burning nerve pain before I got it calmed down. Side effect of autoimmune Sjogrens. I don’t go out if UV is above a 2 anymore.
- ramblerman 4y ago
  That seems a bit simplistic of an interpretation when there are no similar effect for dehydration, hunger, loss of a limb, or other potential harms. Many animals are seasonal. And extra sun exposure might indicate a good time to mate (spring/summer)
  - AuthorizedCust 4y ago
    Your example harms have an immediate effect. Sun exposure usually does not.
beowulfey 4y ago
Thank you for the additional info. I certainly found it to be big news.
gavinray 4y ago
Anyone who has taken Melanotan-2 or PT-141 could tell you this ;^)

AuthorizedCust 4y ago

> boosted by from inflammatory effects of UV damage That wording supports a notion that the boosting is to encourage the most essential activity of a species—reproduction—in the face of potential harms that may shorten the opportunity for that activity (cancer-induced final exit). That said, I’m aware of counterarguments to the simplistic takes on “sun bad” messaging and think they have merit. Not trying to open a debate on the latter, just clarifying that I’m not trying to grind an ax with the first paragraph.

sdwr 4y ago
Thats what came to my mind too.
whatshisface 4y ago
There's no way that we evolved to chemically respond to an effect that takes fifty years to happen.
- AuthorizedCust 4y ago
  Evolution is a long tail game. Over eons, any mutation conferring an increased likelihood of sustainable reproduction can “win”, including this one.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
treeman79 4y ago
Sun exposure causes a severe inflammatory exposure for me. Spent a day at the beach and it was 7 months of burning nerve pain before I got it calmed down. Side effect of autoimmune Sjogrens. I don’t go out if UV is above a 2 anymore.
ramblerman 4y ago
That seems a bit simplistic of an interpretation when there are no similar effect for dehydration, hunger, loss of a limb, or other potential harms. Many animals are seasonal. And extra sun exposure might indicate a good time to mate (spring/summer)
- AuthorizedCust 4y ago
  Your example harms have an immediate effect. Sun exposure usually does not.

beowulfey 4y ago

Thank you for the additional info. I certainly found it to be big news.

gavinray 4y ago

Anyone who has taken Melanotan-2 or PT-141 could tell you this ;^)