this post was submitted on 29 Sep 2024
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[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I wonder if there is any evolutionary advantage to larger breasts. AFAIK, there's no difference in their ability to deliver milk to babies. And smaller breasts probably have an advantage in a woman's movement and agility, not to mention avoiding back pain. Humans also seem to be the only animal that has larger breasts than necessary -- OTOH, humans are also the only mammal that walks upright, so there are other biological differences.

If it's the case that the only evolutionary reason for large breasts is to better attract (some) men, that would be interesting.

[–] Piemanding@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Milk cows have larger breasts than necessary, but that's from artificial breeding rather than any sort of evolution or adaptation.

[–] Gladaed 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Their larger breasts are necessary since they require a high milk output to reproduce effectively (due to selective pressure of breeding)

Just because the pressure is not "natural" doesn't mean its not real.

[–] vividspecter@lemm.ee 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If it’s the case that the only evolutionary reason for large breasts is to better attract (some) men, that would be interesting.

It's not like large breasts are more common than not large (unless you mean anything larger than nothing at all). I suspect there was a random mutation, and it didn't hurt their reproduction chances but it didn't help either. So you end up with a variety of breast sizes.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

For some reason, only one ape species ever has non-small breasts. You never get large breasted gorillas, chimpanzees or bonobos even though they share 98% of their DNA with us. What is it about humans that means that that trait was evolutionarily advantageous? It's obviously a feature with significant disadvantages, so what is the advantage that offsets that for humans in a way that it doesn't for other great apes?

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Do gorillas, chimpanzees, or Bonobos mate face-to-face, or doggy style?

[–] NikkiDimes@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)
[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

For bonobos, a whole variety of ways and very frequently.

[–] Flyingpeakock@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This might be 100% bullshit but an interesting theory nonetheless.

Gorliias, chimpanzees and bonobos walk around at butt height and see how strong a potential partner is by their butts. Since we started walking upright boobs are closer to eye level and have eveloved to resemble butts.

[–] loaExMachina@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

^ Found the Prison School watcher

[–] Flyingpeakock@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] loaExMachina@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

It's where this tirade is from. (Kinda NSFW)