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Insights into the evolution of human bipedalism from experimental studies of humans and other primates.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Schmitt, D
Published in: The Journal of experimental biology
May 2003

An understanding of the evolution of human bipedalism can provide valuable insights into the biomechanical and physiological characteristics of locomotion in modern humans. The walking gaits of humans, other bipeds and most quadrupedal mammals can best be described by using an inverted-pendulum model, in which there is minimal change in flexion of the limb joints during stance phase. As a result, it seems logical that the evolution of bipedalism in humans involved a simple transition from a relatively stiff-legged quadrupedalism in a terrestrial ancestor to relatively stiff-legged bipedalism in early humans. However, experimental studies of locomotion in humans and nonhuman primates have shown that the evolution of bipedalism involved a much more complex series of transitions, originating with a relatively compliant form of quadrupedalism. These studies show that relatively compliant walking gaits allow primates to achieve fast walking speeds using long strides, low stride frequencies, relatively low peak vertical forces, and relatively high impact shock attenuation ratios. A relatively compliant, ape-like bipedal walking style is consistent with the anatomy of early hominids and may have been an effective gait for a small biped with relatively small and less stabilized joints, which had not yet completely forsaken arboreal locomotion. Laboratory-based studies of primates also suggest that human bipedalism arose not from a terrestrial ancestor but rather from a climbing, arboreal forerunner. Experimental data, in conjunction with anatomical data on early human ancestors, show clearly that a relatively stiff modern human gait and associated physiological and anatomical adaptations are not primitive retentions from a primate ancestor, but are instead recently acquired characters of our genus.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

The Journal of experimental biology

DOI

EISSN

1477-9145

ISSN

0022-0949

Publication Date

May 2003

Volume

206

Issue

Pt 9

Start / End Page

1437 / 1448

Related Subject Headings

  • Physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Locomotion
  • Humans
  • Gait
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Biological Evolution
  • Animals
  • Adaptation, Biological
  • 31 Biological sciences
 

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Schmitt, D. (2003). Insights into the evolution of human bipedalism from experimental studies of humans and other primates. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 206(Pt 9), 1437–1448. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.00279
Schmitt, Daniel. “Insights into the evolution of human bipedalism from experimental studies of humans and other primates.The Journal of Experimental Biology 206, no. Pt 9 (May 2003): 1437–48. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.00279.
Schmitt D. Insights into the evolution of human bipedalism from experimental studies of humans and other primates. The Journal of experimental biology. 2003 May;206(Pt 9):1437–48.
Schmitt, Daniel. “Insights into the evolution of human bipedalism from experimental studies of humans and other primates.The Journal of Experimental Biology, vol. 206, no. Pt 9, May 2003, pp. 1437–48. Epmc, doi:10.1242/jeb.00279.
Schmitt D. Insights into the evolution of human bipedalism from experimental studies of humans and other primates. The Journal of experimental biology. 2003 May;206(Pt 9):1437–1448.
Journal cover image

Published In

The Journal of experimental biology

DOI

EISSN

1477-9145

ISSN

0022-0949

Publication Date

May 2003

Volume

206

Issue

Pt 9

Start / End Page

1437 / 1448

Related Subject Headings

  • Physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Locomotion
  • Humans
  • Gait
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Biological Evolution
  • Animals
  • Adaptation, Biological
  • 31 Biological sciences