Monday, April 11, 2011

We are born to run

We are born to run. According to recent research, the human body was designed and have evolved to be able to run long distances. These capabilities allow our ancestors to conquer the plains of Africa.It said the scientists, long-distance running may be an adaptation of the more significant results than walking on two legs. Walking itself is an ability which began to appear along with the presence of the first hominids some 6 million years ago.It is true that we can not surpass the four-legged mammals who can run fast. Fastest human can only run at a rate of 10 meters per second in just 15 seconds. While horses and dogs can reach twice the speed for several minutes.Even so, anthropologists show how we adapt well to long-distance endurance running. As stated by biologist Dennis Bramble of the University of Utah, and his partner, Dan Lieberman of Harvard University.

Big butt

 "Our feet have many tendons that are not found in other primates," said Lieberman. "You do not use the Achilles tendon when walking, but the tendon is important when running. The muscles of our buttocks, which is characteristic of large size in humans, also is vital to running because it helps balance the body and keep it in order not to bend forward .But the muscles of the buttocks is also not so vital to running, meaning we are more designed for running. In addition, the runners also have to keep their body temperature stays cool, something that explains why we have a lot of sweat glands and skin, lint.Some adaptation is seen also in Homo erectus, the hominid that lived about 2 million years ago. Long legs, short arms, and lower shoulders of Homo erectus and modern humans as well, suited to the demands for a run. While the opposite, previous hominids, such as the australopithecines have proportions more like a chimpanzee foot.Compared to chimpanzees, modern humans have the connections that big feet appropriate body mass. This helps us withstand the pressure that occurs when running.Long-distance running is now regarded as a sport, but according to Lieberman he played an important role in human evolution. Unlike other mammals or primates, we can run as far as miles and miles. The ability of early humans was perhaps possible to obtain meat from dead animals such as hyenas come before animals."Before there are spears, bows and arrows, people experience times when they had to run to live, and they who lose that ability to us," said Lieberman. (Newscientist.com / WSN)

Related Posts by Categories



No comments:

Post a Comment