Why do we have hair in such random places? - Nina G. Jablonski
TED-Ed・2 minutes read
Human hair and animal fur are composed of keratin filaments, with mammals having varied hair types for insulation and protection, while humans have a mix of these types. Early hominins transitioned to a more active lifestyle in Africa, developing more sweat glands and losing much of their coat to aid in faster sweat evaporation, with different types of human hair serving various purposes like temperature regulation, communication, and identification through apocrine glands.
Insights
- The transition of early hominins in Africa from trees to a more active lifestyle led to the loss of much of their coat, aiding in faster sweat evaporation to cool down.
- Various types of human hair serve distinct purposes, including temperature regulation, communication through eyebrows, protection of eyes with eyelashes, and identification through apocrine gland secretions dispersed by hair in armpits, nipples, and pubic areas.
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Recent questions
What are human hair and animal fur made of?
Keratin filaments growing from follicles.
How did early hominins adapt to a more active lifestyle?
Developed more sweat glands to cool down.
What led to the loss of much of the coat in early hominins?
Faster sweat evaporation.
What purposes do different types of human hair serve?
Temperature regulation, communication, and protection.
How do apocrine glands contribute to human hair functions?
Produce secretions dispersed by hair.
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Summary
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Evolution and Functions of Human Hair
- Human hair and animal fur are both made of keratin filaments growing from follicles, with mammals having different types of hair for insulation and protection, while humans have a combination of these types.
- Early hominins in Africa transitioned from trees to a more active lifestyle, developing more sweat glands to cool down, leading to the loss of much of their coat to aid in faster sweat evaporation.
- Different types of human hair serve various purposes, such as temperature regulation on the head, communication through eyebrows, protection of eyes with eyelashes, and identification through armpit, nipple, and pubic hair with apocrine glands producing secretions dispersed by hair.
