[Mamzelle]

Softer food makes faces grow smaller! LOL! Someone give that PhD a grant so he'll shut up! Maybe he'll grow a face without a mouth...

If you cut the tail off a mouse, will his offspring be without tails?

If the facial type is selected for, like selecting for short legs in Bassett Hounds--it's not because the food is closer to the ground...sheesh....

[ValerieUSA]

The skulls of ancient NW native Americans show worn down teeth from the sand in their shellfish diets. The teeth of these people did not not harden through the generations in response to their food. This author draws some bizarre conclusions from the data.

[brytlea]

I agree. This is stupid science to say: Softer food may not be the only cause.

It would not be a cause, period. It might ALLOW a smaller face as the larger muscles would not be needed to chew uncooked or harder foods. But it wouldn't CAUSE it. Evolutionary theory would suggest that an advantage of some sort must be given to those with smaller faces in order for them to become the norm.

Surely sexual selection could cause it, but there is some reason for that selection. Generally mate selection is based on factors that show greater health or fertility, or things like that.

susie

[Ichneumon]

Softer food makes faces grow smaller! LOL! Someone give that PhD a grant so he'll shut up! Maybe he'll grow a face without a mouth... If you cut the tail off a mouse, will his offspring be without tails?

That's not what he's saying. Try again.

[dsc]

"If the facial type is selected for, like selecting for short legs in Bassett Hounds--it's not because the food is closer to the ground...sheesh...."

Basset hounds didn't evolve; they were deliberately bred.

[wolfcreek]

If you cut the tail off a mouse, will his offspring be without tails?

I had a friend who raised Rat terriers. The last two litters he had were born with bobbed tails. Coincidence?