Re: Morgan; various
Paul Crowley (Paul@crowleyp.demon.co.uk)
Sun, 05 Nov 95 21:38:31 GMT
In article <47d7p0$47t@news.cc.ucf.edu>
clarke@acme.ist.ucf.edu "Thomas Clarke" writes:
> I favor the fat layer being a response to hairlessness in the night
> air. <snips>
>
> My experience with cold is that if you keep the core body well
> insulated (body fat, proximal limb fat will do nicely) that the
> distal limbs can get quite cold. I have walked miles in subfreezing
> weather wearing thin "Florida" pants, but a borrowed "Northern" parka.
> My legs got cold and and even a little numb, but still functioned.
>
> So actually the fat layer is about what I would expect for protection
> from cold night air in the absence of hair.
Our ancestors must have had a significant death rate from exposure.
Surely the most obvious selective response to this during the last
N Myr would have been to put on a bit of fur? Most European males
have hairy legs (and many females). It would have been so easy to
make that hair a bit thicker - and to get some hair back on the
trunk. The goose-pimple response is still there. My hairy chest
and back keep me noticeably warmer than most.
Fat is wrong solution altogether - a) surplus food is needed;
b) it increases weight, reducing speed and endurance.
You don't see athletes or wild animals with much fat for a
lot of very good reasons.
You've not been up to your usual standard recently, Tom. Been
under the weather or something?
Paul.
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