Your Period and the Odd, Hackish World of Evolution
July 22, 2014 9:19 PM Subscribe
"Normal mammalian pregnancy is a well-ordered affair because the mother is a despot. Her offspring live or die at her will; she controls their nutrient supply, and she can expel or reabsorb them any time. Human pregnancy, on the other hand, is run by committee – and not just any committee, but one whose members often have very different, competing interests and share only partial information."
Dr. Suzanne Sadedin answers the question What is the evolutionary benefit or purpose of having periods? with a deep dive into the surprisingly antagonistic world of reproduction in higher primates.
Bonus link: Though women may not have menstruated as often in the Olden Days, they did have to cope with bleeding from time to time. If you're wondering how they dealt with it, the Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health has you covered. (Previously.)
Bonus link: Though women may not have menstruated as often in the Olden Days, they did have to cope with bleeding from time to time. If you're wondering how they dealt with it, the Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health has you covered. (Previously.)
This post was deleted for the following reason: Double. -- LobsterMitten
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posted by stopgap at 9:24 PM on July 22, 2014