Slow Evolution of Human Childhood Began Earlier Than Expected: Ancient Tooth Reveals

A study examining a 1.77 million-year-old tooth suggests that the slow evolution of hominids may have started earlier than previously thought. The tooth belonged to a prehistoric child from Dmanisi, present-day Georgia. Researchers found that the child’s teeth developed at a slow pace similar to that of modern humans in the first few years and later resembled the growth of great apes.

This unique childhood development may have allowed for more time to learn social behavior before brain development accelerated. The study offers important clues about the evolution of the extended period of human development, but more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions.

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