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Saturday, March 12, 2011

When humans lost their penile spines and began enjoying their sexual relationships...

California: Stanford University - Iris & B. Ge...Image by wallyg via Flickr
When humans lost their penile spines and began enjoying their sex...

This week from Britain: It is a genetic mutation for which all men and their sexual partners can be grateful for. Scientists have identified the stretch of DNA that caused the human penis to lose its spines.

While many other mammals including chimpanzees, macaque monkeys, cats and mice have hard bristles on the sides of their penis, the male sexual organ is mercifully smooth in human beings. This has been traced to the loss of a genetic switch that activates the growth of penile spines.

This mutation almost certainly evolved as human beings became monogamous. As well as causing discomfort for the female, spines make the penis more sensitive and thus shorten the length of intercourse. Their loss would have made sex more satisfying, promoting pair bonding.

This discovery, published recently in the journal NATURE, offers important insights into human evolution. The research was done by by scientists at Stanford University in California.

Acknowledgements: The Times

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