The Dark Side of Fire Discovery

Throughout the years the discovery of controlled fire has been seeing as one of the most rewarding aspects of human evolution. It definitely made life easier in terms of warmth, light, protection, and alimentation. However, recent studies have demonstrated that this also guided human beings to develop genetic mutations and cultural habits.

Steph Yin in his article Smoke, Fire, and Human Evolution published on the New York Times discussed that the discovery of fire contributed to the evolution of human beings in relation with genetic mutations, smoking habits, and the spread of some diseases. He claimed that the inhalation of smoke and toxic air may provoke a type of cancer, but fire helped human beings to develop some mutations in order to do not get affected by it. In the same way, we do not have problems when consuming the “acrylamide, a compound that forms in food during frying or baking” (Yin). This compound may cause cancer when it is consumed by other species, but it does not have the same effect on human beings.

In addition, Yin stated that smoking habits might be developed for people who spent a lot of time near the fire. They got used to inhale the smoke and its toxics. This situation guided some people to become dependent of it. Thus, human beings related the inhalation of smoking with social habits and interaction.

The author also wrote that fire supported the spread of some diseases like tuberculosis. Fire got people together and increased the interaction among them in close places. This situation caused that some diseases get easily transmitted to other people. People also got infected with other respiratory infections because all the toxics in the air. This and the inhalation of smoke also contributed to the development of some antibodies to avoid get easily infected with some respiratory diseases.

In brief, recent studies have demonstrated that fire not only contributed to the evolution of human beings with positive effects, but it also brought some negative ones in terms of cultural and biological aspects. However, more research is needed to support this idea.

Reference:

Yin, Steph. "Smoke, Fire and Human Evolution." The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 Aug. 2016. Web. 05 Aug. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/09/science/fire-smoke-evolution-tuberculosis.html?hpw&rref=science&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well>.