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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Nina Massey

Human evolution: Our shoulders and elbows first evolved as brakes for climbing apes, says study

PA Archive

The rotating shoulders and extending elbows that allow humans to reach a high shelf or throw a ball may have first evolved as a natural braking system for our primate ancestors, a study suggests.

According to the researchers, early humans needed the movements to slow their descent out of trees so they could climb down without dying.

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