Evolution Diary

Just read this interesting research article about large human brain evoluton.

Research is done by University of Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ — They say nice guys finish
last, and according to a new model that attempts to understand why humans
evolved distinctively large brains, that was never more true than 100,000
years ago.
Scientists have called humans the “uniquely unique species” due in
large part to the size of our brains in relation to our bodies and our
complex social interactions.
What science has had trouble explaining is why, 100,000 years ago, over
a relatively short period in biological evolution, we developed such large
brains at a time when the functions made possible by a large brain would
seem unnecessary.
A new paper published in this week’s online edition of the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences by University of Tennessee professor
Sergey Gavrilets looks to Machiavelli for the answer.
Gavrilets, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and
mathematics, developed a mathematical model to test the theory that humans’
large brains are a result of the most clever males using increasingly
sophisticated strategies to outmaneuver other males in the quest to
reproduce as much as possible.
Some evolutionary biologists have theorized about the idea of
Machiavellian intelligence — namely, that there is a distinct advantage to
the types of trickery and deception espoused by the 14th century Italian
noble Niccolo Machiavelli in his pamphlet entitled “The Prince.” They
theorize that the advantage is seen most strongly in the task of
reproduction.
“Mating success is a powerful determinant in genetic selection,” said
Gavrilets. “This research indicates that the most successful males were
those who beat out other males in their quest to reproduce.”

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