Asexual pre-humans?

[SireJoe]

Cant say I know much about human evolution. But I was just thinking...

Is it possible sometime long ago, that humans were asexual? That we evolved into how we are today? To breed with a male and female? Is it possible before that we reproduced without sexes?

Could that explain male nipples? Meaning that "men" also had children and fed them as females did. Or homosexuality? In such that a part of our genetic makeup still has some remnance of the transition to breeding. So the hormone balance, the genetic makeup of these individuals have that transitional portion of becoming male or female from our past within them? Sort of a conflict of natural evolution? Or just a remant that is either working itself out of our evolution, or has for one reason or another become a part of it.

I dunno if I am making any sense with this, but it just occurs to me that this theory could explain some of the 'unknown' within ourselves.

Anyone have any comments on this?

[druid]

No, it cannot be possible.
You possibly refer to parthenogenesis ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis ).
Primates don't usually reproduct by parthenogenesis ( the only famously known case is mother of Jesus Crist, but I would doubt scientific reliance of this data, hehe )
But you can find several cases of such hormonal disbalances which are explained absolutely without turning to evolutionary theories.
The most striking examples are Klinefelter's syndrome
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XXY_syndrome )
and Turner syndrome ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turner_syndrome )

[narrowstaircase]

Could that explain male nipples? Meaning that "men" also had children and fed them as females did. Or homosexuality? In such that a part of our genetic makeup still has some remnance of the transition to breeding.

a transition from asexual to sexual reproduction would have to occur on a really simple level in the development of the organism. way before we were anything resembling humans. i dont think any physiological changes would have been selected during the transition stage if the organism was already in a pre-human state.

also, a genetic need to breed is different to an inclination to practice sex. behavioural offshoots from breeding (human sex in all its forms) are probably psychologically derived. geneticly induced homosexuality would not be selected due to the traits inability to be passed on.

i have never thought about why males have nipples. all i can think of is that the line between male and female genetically is really thin. except for the reproducing organs, all other features are very similar just different in proportion. maybe it helps tht the genetic difference is very small. maybe its better / more-stable genetic material. more ordered! negative entropy ftw

[sachin]

i have never thought about why males have nipples. all i can think of is that the line between male and female genetically is really thin. except for the reproducing organs, all other features are very similar just different in proportion. maybe it helps tht the genetic difference is very small. maybe its better / more-stable genetic material. more ordered! negative entropy ftw

Men have nipples

Dont laugh, But its true that genetic line is too short for sahding those hills
from Men body.

But It might be possible that In past some where in Evol.History Male had also Milked childs
And with no need of male milk in further genrations it may have became non functional.

[mith]

men probably never gave milk, it's just that men and women have the same body templates

[druid]

men probably never gave milk, it's just that men and women have the same body templates

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_lactation

[narrowstaircase]

But It might be possible that In past some where in Evol.History Male had also Milked childs
And with no need of male milk in further genrations it may have became non functional.

that is so intriguing.
so male/female roles within the group were both nurturer! that would be a reason for them developing the same physiology (to a point). and at some point in time the roles split to nurturer/protector. and slowly the male mamary gland and nipple has become smaller...
this is of course just free thinking. i dont think the group would've been able to survive with just offspring nurturers and no group protectors.

do male apes have nipples? the bonobo chimpanzee males are very nurturing. but i dont think they are developing functional mammary glands. hrrmm, who would have thought the humble nipple would be so secretive!

[sachin]

Most milk comes out of the mother's nipples, however a platypus releases milk through ducts in its abdomen. Only one male mammal is known to produce milk, the Dayak fruit bat. Some other male mammals may produce milk as the result of a hormone imbalance (for instance Witch's milk).

Thanks for appreciation....

[enarees]

Cant say I know much about human evolution. But I was just thinking...
...
Could that explain male nipples? Meaning that "men" also had children and fed them as females did. Or homosexuality?
...
Anyone have any comments on this?

Male nipples are on male ribs.
Fishes or reptiles have been Gods hands to transport the sperm on lactating nipple.
Food for asexual fertilization.

Wthout this fertilization no humans.
This fertilization is used and today, but fathers put embryos in woman womb.
They keep strong secret. This is the clan of Grail.