At what point in human evolution did "male pattern baldness" first appear?
608846
you've never seen a balding monkey? Well, I guess that's just one more reason DARWIN WAS WRONG!!!
1124679
Humans won't look particularly different 5000 years from now on a natural evolutionary track, besides probably being taller and having less hair. Of course, with the advent of genetic technologies and the changing picture of the world ecosystem and available resources, one cannot say what the human race, if it remains, might look like 5000 years from now.
1004804
The thought is that life (all of it) came from a single organism and over a long time has become what we can see today. An example i can think of that has occurred over a short enough time span that we can use would be Human intelligence, size relative to geography, and skin color relative to geography.  We as humans are smarter today than generations past, for instance modern man 10000 years ago did not have the smarts we have today, do you believe it is due to school or human mental advancement(evolution). There is an extremely noticeable difference between natives of different geographical locations. Darker skin in the hotter regions and lighter skin in the regions with less sun per year. ie Africa and Europe  The theory is very well developed and provable back to a certain point.  And NO ONE said that a GOD didn't strike the first amino acid with the lightening to start the evolution.
30459
wow, you are asking this in biology and getting all these fruitcake religious answers? Most likely, the first sexually reproductive organisms where something akin to hermaphrodites- both "sexes" within the same organism or colony, it wasn't until later that individual organisms were expressly male or female, so, in truth, "man" and "women" really male and female, evolved concurrently.
922988
Definitely vocal cords evolved first.  They may have been primitive ones that allowed for people to only be named things like Ugh, but definitely the ability to produce specific, repeated sounds came before those sounds meant anything.
571971
If I understand your question, you're asking about the origins of the Y chromosome in evolution.  If so, that's a valid question ... in fact, it's a great question!\n\nFirst, understand that this didn't start with a person.  All mammals, birds, reptiles, and most amphibians have a Y chromosome, which indicates that this arose a long time ago in evolution ... the estimate is about 350 million years ago.\n\nMany animals do not have a Y chromosome.  For example, in many insect species (like grasshoppers), the female is XX, and the male is X.  Or in other species (like bees), there is no genetic difference between males and females, but sex is determined by what the larvae is fed during early development.\n\nThe origin of the Y chromosome seems to have occurred about 350 million years ago in some reptile species, where a mutation occurred in an X chromosome that caused all its owners to become male ... the birth of the Y chromosome.  Over time, those genes that produced things advantageous for males to have, would accumulate on the Y chromosome, and those things good for females to have would acumulate on the X chromosome.  For more information, see my second source (the wiki page on the Y-chromosome), or type "origin Y chromosome" into Google.
607969
The fossil record doesn't show any kind of trend towards smaller body size in the hominid lineage.  The earliest hominids, like Australopithecus afarensis, were much smaller than we are now, perhaps only 3 or 4 feet high.\n\nIf anything, the trend has been towards larger body size.  Homo sapiens in general is taller than Homo erectus was, which was taller than Homo habilis and so on.\n\nEven the off-shoot population of European neandertals were shorter than average human stature, but had more massive bones, with higher density than ours, and may have been noticeably stronger.\n\nThere was one off-shoot that may very well have shrunk in size.  Homo floriensis was discovered a few years ago as remains on an Indonesian island, and appears to have been a dwarf form of human.  Dubbed the 'Hobbit' by the popular press, it may well turn out that this was a tiny species of human, only 3 foot high, that lived in the area at the same time as Homo sapiens sapiens.\n\nDwarfism is a common adaptation found in island species isolated from the mainland.  Dwarf forms of elephant once existed on Malta, and a dwarf mammoth survived on Wrangel island until only 5000 years ago.\n\nUnfortunately, only two workers really examined the Homo floriensis fossils.  One is the dude who put forth the claim of a new species, and the other one claims they were just the remains of a regular human who suffered from dwarfism.  The fossils were smashed beyond recognition on the trip back, and each researcher blames the other.  And then the Indonesian government refused all research permits for the area since that time.  So we're still waiting to hear for sure as to what those fossils mean.
22347
Causes of Excessive Hair Loss\n\nThe rate of hair shedding in androgenic alopecia is speeded up by three forces: advancing age, an inherited tendency to bald early, and an over-abundance of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) within the hair follicle. DHT is a highly active form of testosterone, which influences many aspects of manly behavior, from sex drive to aggression. \n\nThe conversion from testosterone to DHT is driven by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which is produced in the prostate, various adrenal glands, and the scalp. Over time, the action of DHT causes the hair follicle to degrade and shortens the anagen phase. Thought the follicle is technically still alive and connected to a good blood supply--it can successfully nurture a transplanted follicle which is immune to the effects of DHT--it will grow smaller and smaller (figure 3). Some follicles will gradually die, but most will simply shrink to the size they were when you were born which produce weaker hairs. With a steadily shorter anagen growing cycle, more hairs are shed, the hairs becoming thinner and thinner until they are too fine to survive daily wear and tear. Balding hair gradually changes from long, thick, coarse, pigmented hair into fine, unpigmented vellus sprouts. \n\nHowever, the sebaceous gland attached to it remains the same size. As the hair shafts become smaller, the gland continues to pump out about the same amount of oil. So as your hair thins, you will notice that your hair becomes flatter and oilier. \n\nBut the hormonal link in balding is complex. Eunuchs, who produce no testosterone, never go bald -- even if carrying a baldness gene. However, if castrated men with a family history of baldness are given testosterone, they lose hair in the classic horseshoe-shaped pattern. \n\nStudies show that while balding men don't have higher than average circulating testosterone levels, they do possess above-average amounts of a powerful testosterone derivative, dihydrotestosterone in the scalp follicles. In male balding, genetically primed follicles convert circulating testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which successively diminishes or miniaturizes follicle size, producing ever weaker hairs. With a steadily shorter anagen growing cycle, more hairs are shed, the hairs becoming thinner and thinner until they are too fine to survive daily wear and tear. Balding hair gradually changes from long, thick, coarse, pigmented hair into fine, depigmented vellus sprouts. \n\nOther physiological factors might cause hair loss. Recently, a group of Japanese researcher reported a correlation between excessive sebum in the scalp and hair loss. Excessive sebum often accompanying thinning hair is attributed to an enlargement of the sebaceous gland. They believed excessive sebum causes an high level of 5-alpha reductase and pore clogging, thus malnutrition of the hair root. \n\nAlthough this condition could be hereditary, they believe diet is a more prominent cause. The researchers note that Japanese hair was thick and healthy, with a small gland and little scalp oil, until the occidental habit of consuming animal fat crept into their diet after World War II. This change has led to a significant height increase in the Japanese population, but it has also resulted in more Japanese men losing hair. To some extent, their observation makes sense since problems with greasy hair have often been noted as much as six months to a year prior to when thinning hair becomes noticeable, but this might be just one of the symptoms, not underlying cause, more research is needed. Most doctors agree that if you have a oily scalp with thinning hair, frequent shampooing is advised. shampooing can reduce surface sebum, which contains high levels of testosterone and DHT that may reenter the skin and affect the hair follicle.
979450
Man originated from earlier primates in eastern Africa. The big step in their evolution is the drying of eastern Africa about 4 million years ago. When the jungles died and separated, what would become man developed a locking knee joint. This enabled them to walk much farther (and endurance run) to cover more ground and obtain more resources, putting them at a distinct advantage to other primates. If you don't believe me, try walking around without locking your knee, it's hard and taxing.\n\nThis adaptation allowed for the development of many other things that we've come to love: our large heads and brains (when we were strictly bipedal, we free up our hands for projects, and this favors big brains), short rib cage (for flexibility), and big butts (something has to give you balance when you don't have a tail).\n\nThis climate change occurred when New Guinea moved in the way of a prominent current that brought warm, moist water to east Africa. Over time, these newly smart, adapted primates radiated out of Africa and to the rest of the world. See links below for more info.\nSource(s):\nhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1321867.stm\nhttp://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v411/n6834/abs/411157a0.html\nhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4021811.stm
762352
Man originated from earlier primates in eastern Africa. The big step in their evolution is the drying of eastern Africa about 4 million years ago. When the jungles died and separated, what would become man developed a locking knee joint. This enabled them to walk much farther (and endurance run) to cover more ground and obtain more resources, putting them at a distinct advantage to other primates. If you don't believe me, try walking around without locking your knee, it's hard and taxing.\n\nThis adaptation allowed for the development of many other things that we've come to love: our large heads and brains (when we were strictly bipedal, we free up our hands for projects, and this favors big brains), short rib cage (for flexibility), and big butts (something has to give you balance when you don't have a tail).\n\nThis climate change occurred when New Guinea moved in the way of a prominent current that brought warm, moist water to east Africa. Over time, these newly smart, adapted primates radiated out of Africa and to the rest of the world. See links below for more info.
366828
Its an evoluntairy throw back. Way back when, the big and though males would have the highest chance of survival. And therefor those males got more sex. Even though that has now changed the behavioral pattern of trying to impress the female by showing how though, strong and damn good their genes are has not changed.
683699
yes, he's right.  A mid sagittal crest.  It will be more pronounced on males than females due to more masculinizing hormone (testosterone) in males than females.  \nMy male cat's CREST is quite pronounced and female is negligable.  After the muscles come off skulls-bones after death, one can see the lines of origins and insertions of most muscles.  The more active a person-animal was with their muscles, the more pronounced these crests and markings will be.  Bone develoment (buildup) occurs all throughout life and depends on the amount of STRESS the muscles place on the bones. THIS IS TRUE IN ANIMALS AND HUMANS.
1042052
Sure, they were humans like us and they didn't live too long, but baldness can happen early, so I'd think that they could go bald, but hopfully I don't because I want to get a good shag going on again.
1148526
Baldness  is very attractive.It makes a man  look distinguish.And the song says{DONT WORRY BE HAPPY}
1106215
Just be happy you live at this point in human evolution and not tens of thousands of years ago, we used to be covered with hair head to toe.  As body hair became less necessary, we gradually evolved to the point where body hair is very light except for certain areas like the face, underarms and groin.  Eventually, it's possible that all body hair will be bred out of the species and mankind will be hairless.
139425
Genetics. It might sound stupid, but girls were taught to be "dainty" 800 years ago, and had that pounded through their heads for 200 years. It caught on, and through genetics, it was passed on. Girls fainted at EVERYTHING, blood, bugs, you name it. Since bugs (like nits) were disease causers, they ruined daintyness. After 600 years of this, it's not something that goes away really fast. The menfolk were fighting military battles. See a connection? Now, I'm not saying that there were absolutly no woman that didn't like bugs, but most girls had the equiette of the time.
311457
The facial features of Caucasians are likely not so much an adaptive trait as they are either a linked trait, or due to genetic drift and the founder's effect.\n\nIf the population of Homo sapiens that initially settled in Europe had a larger than normal proportion of people with 'fine' facial features, these proportions may have been preserved through subsequent generations.  Much the same thing can be seen in isolated areas (such as many islands) where the inbred cat population has a higher than normal incidence of polydactyly (six or more toes).  It's not an adaptive trait, but in the absence of selective pressure/competition and no influx of more dominant genes, the trait survives.\n\nIf the trait was linked to traits that were adaptive (i.e. pale skin that serves to increase Vitamin D production), then the fine facial features would be selected for through natural selection.  Not directly, but because the fair skinned people also happen to have fine facial features.\n\nSo there may not be a 'point' to European facial features, they are simply a legacy of the history of the genes of that region.