Hi everyone,

Some of you may be interested in an article in this
week's New Scientist [25 Nov 2000 No 2266 p29-33]
which is actually about the 'aquatic ape' theory,
and how we might be more aquatic than previously
thought. Much of the article considers the controversy
about the theory.

There are some interesting 'fat' issues which I
thought I'd mention :

p30 human subcutaneous fat is 'bonded to the skin'
just as it is in dolphins, seals and hippos. It's
also white fat which apparently is better for buoyancy
than insulation.

p32 large brains - requirement of Docosahexaenoic (DHA)
for membranes of neurons and photoreceptor cells and
Arachidonic Acid (AA) for walls of blood vessels. Both
fatty acids in reasonably short supply and slow to form
within body. Only place where DHA is abundant is in
world's oceans etc. "this is where the first primitive
nerve system evolved".

Jo