Was the Human Genome Designed First?

[RonSewell (RonS)]

@thoughtful

It seems that in the evolutionary paradigm, selection works more powerfully on body size than brain size.

Absolutely. Body size is quite malleable.

Increasing brain size allows for increased brain complexity, which is the real object. Much neural development involves culling of neurons. It is the complexity that allows for the distinctive human capabilities. The increase in human brain size is not proportional by region and structure, developing the upper and frontal lobes without much change in the regulatory stuff.

[Faizal_Ali]

@John_Harshman

Or do you know an environment in which it pays to be stupid?

[Mercer (John Mercer)]

@thoughtful

It seems that in the evolutionary paradigm, selection works more powerfully on body size than brain size. Study shows how mammals evolved to have bigger brains | Natural History Museum .

It’s not necessarily selection. It also depends on the genetic variation available for selection to act upon.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.1137045