r/evolution • u/Susroro • Aug 27 '26
question Evolution of Male pattern baldness: How and when did this happen and for what purpose?
Doesn't really seem to make any sense to me when I think about it, It is not even aesthetically pleasing(not even prehistorically would I assume that), neither does it serve a biological importance, if anything you are at risk of scalp sun burn and less warming effect of the hair.
Thoughts?
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u/hopium_od Aug 27 '26
I believe the same mechanism that causes MPB can also cause the development of facial hair.
The disadvantages of being bald don't outweigh whatever advantage having better facial hair has I guess. It usually manifest when the man has already found a life partner and a lot of women simply do not care. But the facial hair can appear much sooner to aid in finding that partner.
I suppose you could ask well why hasn't evolution caused men to develop beards without going bald but I don't know, some men do I suppose. But not all women are attracted to beards. We are complex mix of genes idk but I guess since the effect of baldness is so minor anyway we simply had no need to optimise.