Gorillas have always been considered to be homologous to humans, and they are all differentiated from ancient apes. However, natural selection led them to different evolutionary paths. The obvious point is the difference in muscles. Fitness enthusiasts in human beings can only exercise enviable muscles by being active in the gym every day, while gorillas rest most of the time every day, but they are full of muscles.

A doctor of biology at Duke University once lamented that we are obese primates. Numerous scientific studies have also proved that humans are indeed fatter than gorillas, which is undoubtedly another knife inserted in us. What makes gorillas sit back and relax, while humans become obese primates?

We will explore the muscle mystery of gorillas from macro and micro levels. Compared with humans, gorillas have a very powerful part of their bodies, the digestive system. We will find that many gorillas have it? Beer belly? Or? But unlike the thick fat under human skin, the general's belly is full of the powerful large intestine of gorillas.

Make our large intestine bigger and longer. At the same time, orangutans can absorb far more nutrients than humans. In addition, plant cellulose, which cannot be absorbed by human beings, is an important energy source for gorillas. Cellulose-eating bacteria in their intestines are an important source of protein, and they can follow the muscle deployment at any time.

At the micro level, it is actually a genetic difference. Although the genes of humans and gorillas are very similar, the only difference gene is enough to affect the different shapes of the two species. When the early DNA was encapsulated in fat cells, orangutans and humans had already differentiated, which made humans start to store more fat instead of consuming it.

Compared with our close relatives, even people with six-pack abdominal muscles have a lot of fat reserves. The body fat content of healthy people is between14% and 31%,while that of other primates is mostly below 9%. This huge difference in gene coding is more determined by the cruel survival competition in nature. Every animal has its own survival mechanism and competitive strategy, and muscle growth is one of them.

Although human muscles are not as good as gorillas, in terms of energy consumption, human beings are better. If calculated in proportion to body size, humans consume 400-800 calories more than orangutans every day. A large part of it is supplied to the brain. Although the brain only accounts for about 2.5% of human body weight, it consumes as much energy as 20%.

If humans develop muscles like animals, it is estimated that they need to rest all the time. However, it is difficult for primitive humans to find enough protein to maintain their health through hunting and gathering. So the end result is to lose a lot of muscles and a strong body, replaced by a smart brain that can kill almost everything.

Of course, in this process, humans began to increase the fat that stores energy. As a buffer for vital organs, it protects us from colds and hunger. At the same time, abundant energy also allows us to maintain the energy of the brain in an emergency.

Throughout the evolutionary history of 6-8 million years between humans and chimpanzees, the human brain has almost tripled, but the brain capacity of chimpanzees has stagnated. They concentrate more resources on their strong muscles.

Perhaps our ancestors thought that it was easier to gain survival advantage by converting excess energy into fat than by accelerating consumption. This is why human fat accumulates, but not as muscular as chimpanzees.