Article Hypothesis and Analysis: Why Do Human Beings Become Alcoholics?

A detailed Summary of Article Hypothesis and Analysis: Why Do Human Beings Become Alcoholics?

Why do human beings become alcoholics? Specifically, what evolutionary advantage would be conveyed to the species by passing on a genetic predisposition for a love of intoxication? The idea of addictive behaviors having any positive attributes may seem perplexing at first. However, Dustin Stephens and Rodger Dudley offer the intriguing hypothesis that "a strong attraction to the smell and taste of alcohol conferred a selective advantage on our primate ancestors by helping them locate nutritious fruit at the peak of ripeness," as a source of nutrition. (Stephens & Dudley, 2004, p.1) They call this hypothesis, in their memorable and refreshingly colloquial phrase, as opposed to usual scientific jargon, "the drunken money hypothesis." (Stephens & Dudley, 2004, p.1) By seeing alcoholism as a possible evolutionary advantage that has outgrown its primate beginnings, the scientists hope to better understand, destimatize, and offer aid to the estimated fourteen million alcoholics in the Unit

To research and formulate their hypothesis, the authors first examined fossilized primate teeth which showed that fruit had been a major component of the primate diet since the mid- to late Eocene Epoch, between 45 million and 34 million years ago. Ripe fruit and alcohol both have yeasts that consume sugar molecules in the fruit as a source of energy. In a process known as anaerobic fermentation, as fruit ripens, the ethanol content of the fruit rises rapidly. Unripe fruit contains no ethanol, ripe hanging fruit is about 0.6 percent ethanol by weight and overripe fruit can have an ethanol content of more than 4 percent. Alcohol gives the fruit a stronger smell, drawing animals to its ripening state, as well as offers a greater source of caloric energy than unripe fruit.

Interestingly, "to prove the drunken monkey hypothesis," the authors say that "it is not enough to show that alcohol is beneficial--or at least not damaging--to health." (Stephens & Dudley, 2004, p.2) They point to nu

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Approximate Word count = 669
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Science

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