The theory of evolution can explain human development when examining biological adaptations. To begin, one adaptation that supports human development with regards to evolution is sweat glands. Sweating is a cooling mechanism that ultimately keeps the body’s internal temperature stable. The human skin is naked, has no coat of fur and is sweaty which helps one’s body cool down. The absence of sweating can cause the human body to overheat and die instantly. The humans developed the sweat glands mostly during the time of hunting as it was highly beneficial because it gave humans the ability to run in speed for long distances while animals had to stop and cool off by panting. Humans were able to run for a long period of time because the sweat glands cooled their body by releasing water molecules onto the surface of the skin. Sweating allowed humans to become superior hunters because animals were unable to sweat and while running, animal’s guts would hit their diaphragm causing them to stop and rest. This provides humans an opportunity to strike at the animals first during the hunting journey.
Furthermore, another prominent adaptation that enhances human development is melanin. Melanin provides human skin with pigmentation ranging from various shades. Melanin’s main function is to protect humans from UV rays. Melanin’s adaptation has provided great advantages to human development because the pigmentation was a survival tool to protect individuals from UV rays. UV rays can cause skin damage or cancer but the strong radiation was blocked because melanin acted as a barrier to the sun’s exposure. The dark pigmentation reduced the chances of cancerous formations or skin damage, therefore, humans can live longer and healthier. People who inhabited in the North had to get rid of their melanin due to the reduction in revelation to the sun and vitamin D. The colder climates had less sun exposure causing individuals to absorb less vitamin D, which is vital because it strengthens the immune and bone system.
Lastly, an adaptation that effectively supports human development with regards to evolution is the lactose enzyme. Lactase is a digestive enzyme for lactose, a nourishing combination of milk and sugar. Individuals who had this gene had ancestors who farmed and milked cows, sheep and goats. Humans who never inherited this gene had previous ancestors who lacked access to dairy. For example, the Mongol army was lactose persistent which allowed them to get this adaption whereas, the Jin soldiers ate rich carbohydrates like rice. The Jin army did not have the enzyme, so they carried rice on the horses as their food source during the time of war, which applied a lot of weight and pressure on the horses causing the horses to walk slower. The lactose enzyme was beneficial for the body and during the time of war as the horses were a source of milk while the Europeans travelled to their war destinations. People favored this function because milk and other dairy products like cheese provides protein which gave them long-lasting energy.
In conclusion, the theory of evolution ultimately demonstrates human advancements when analyzing various physical transformations.