To beard, or not to beard: linking sexual selection on masculinity, embryonic neural crest cells, and human self-domestication

摘要: Masculinity in human males is expressed morphology, vocal pitch, body odour, and testosterone levels, as well through behavioural predispositions, including competitive status striving, aggressive reactivity, high reproductive effort at the expense of paternal investment. As this article shows, these masculine secondary sexual traits are linked to activity embryonic neural crest cells (NCCs). Since downregulation NCC function physiological cause mammalian domestication syndrome, it follows that any selection favour low masculinity would promote a process self-domestication. such, future research into on will benefit from an appreciation functioning, consideration evolutionary implications This integrates two longstanding fields scientific interest by revealing mechanisms masculinity, explaining how effect changes associated with In doing so, offers succinct compelling explanation good genes theoretically provided individuals, explains peculiar behaviour, shaving facial hair.