Splitting Hairs: Evaluating the Origin of Human Nakedness

The document explores the evolution of human hairlessness, a unique trait among primates and rare among mammals, by evaluating various hypotheses about its origins. The study emphasizes the importance of determining the timing of hair loss to understand the evolutionary pressures involved. By examining genetic, fossil, and experimental data, the research concludes that the thermoregulatory hypothesis is the most likely explanation for the evolution of hairlessness in humans, suggesting that the need for efficient body temperature regulation drove this trait's development.