> I think you have it right, Amadeus. I cannot imagine
> a scenario in which the
> loss of the ability to synthesize vitamin C could
> have created a metabolic
> advantage large enough to suddenly and rapidly
> overwhelm those who had not
> lost the ability.
>
> -gts

Unless the loss of the ability to syntethize ascorbate
was in fact the result of some evolutionary
"compromise" that resulted in a distinct advantage for
the "new" humans in some other fashion. I'm not
certain how energy expensive vitamin C synthesization
would be. Anyone have an idea? Or is there another
area (run faster, jump higher, keener smell..) that
could have been affected by vitamin C reduction? Or,
at the risk of sounding heretical, maybe Pauling was
incorrect in his assumptions. Maybe too much vitamin
actually inhibits or reduces something else that gives
a sythesizing species a decided "dis"-advantage.

Interesting subject.

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