Bentley research, suggesting that human female have large breasts because it
helps flat faced human babies breathe, is not new.  She must have given
another paper on it at the recent meetings of the American Association of
Physical Anthropology meetings in Kansas City.  Her claim that "Mothers
among our close relatives, such as chimpanzees and
bonobos, are all but flat-chested." is not accurate, as is easily refutable
by a trip to a zoo with breeding primates, or a look at a book about
bonobos.  Bonobos especially -- which used to be called pygmy chimpanzees --
have breasts just like human breasts, but with longer nipples.  Around the
world, the size of human breasts depends a whole lot on fat stores in the
mother.  Many marginally nourished women do not have protruding breasts, but
they get pregnant and lactate anyway.  Many adequately-nourished women have
small, hardly protruding breasts, but they get pregnant and lactate anyway.

Kathy Dettwyler

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