Tiny Knee Bone May Have Facilitated Human Upright Walking

Overview

• The lateral fabella is a small bone found in the knee, present in around 39% of humans but not in all primates.
• Scientists from King's College London analyzed 93 primate species to study the presence of the lateral fabella and other sesamoid bones.
• The bone has been linked to osteoarthritis, being twice as common in individuals with the condition.
• Findings indicate that the bone could have played a role in the evolution of bipedalism in early humans like Australopithecus.
• The study points to an evolutionary process called exaptation, where existing structures take on new functions over time.