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61 million years ago, a branch of the mammalian family tree had a gene break, called GLO. Since then, those mammals have been unable to synthesize Vitamin C. Th
by samatman 2y ago
61 million years ago, a branch of the mammalian family tree had a gene break, called GLO. Since then, those mammals have been unable to synthesize Vitamin C. That branch includes humans.
There's no upside to this. Vitamin C is crucial, it isn't especially easy to get sometimes, and it would most definitely improve survival. We just... can't make it. That's all.
- rsync 2y ago"There's no upside to this." Of course there is an upside to this. We may not value that upside and we may not ever learn what it is but ALL traits have both benefits and costs.
- wvbdmp 2y agoWhile I doubt that’s true in general, I could fantasise that this somehow, in a roundabout way, contributed to our intelligence because it may have increased selection for better vision, pattern matching etc. to gather (edible) fruit.