A NEW SYNDROME WITH QUADRUPEDAL
GAIT, PRIMITIVE SPEECH, AND SEVERE
MENTAL RETARDATION AS A LIVE MODEL
FOR HUMAN EVOLUTIONUnerTanauthorThe author has discovered a new syndrome with quadrupedal gait, flexed head and body, primitive speech, severe mental retardation, and mild cerebellar signs with a disturbed conscious experience. This syndrome was exhibited by 5 of 19 children from a consanguineous family. The pedigree demonstrated a typical
autosomal-recessive inheritance. The genetic nature of this syndrome suggests a backward stage in human evolution, which is most probably caused by a
genetic mutation, rendering, in turn, the transition from quadrupedality to bipedality. This would then be consistent with theories of punctuated evolution.
On the other hand, the extensor motor system causing a resistance of the body against the gravity may actually be subjected to evolutionary forces. This new syndrome may be used as a live model for human evolution.Evolutionary Psychology2006Taylor & FrancisJournal (Paginated)