The Evolution of Walking Upright and Genetic Clues

Today, you’ll learn about a new weapon in the war against toxic shock syndrome, how scientists used AI to understand how humans evolved to walk upright, and a new discovery that changes what we know about saber-toothed cats. 

TSS Bacto-Battles 

• “Inhibition of Toxic Shock Syndrome Associated Staphylococcus aureus by Probiotic Lactobacilli.” by Patrick M. Schlievert. 2023.  
• https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01735-23 
• “Probiotic combo stops bacteria that cause toxic shock syndrome.” Science Daily. 2023.  
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230721113221.htm 
• “Toxic shock syndrome.” Mayo Clinic. 2022. 
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/toxic-shock-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20355384 

Why We Walk 

• “These bones were made for walking.” Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 2023.  
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230721113151.htm 
• “Study Sheds Light on Why Humans Walk on Two Legs.” by Claudia Morain. 2007.  
• https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/study-sheds-light-why-humans-walk-two-legs 
• “Why humans walk on two legs: a close look at chimpanzees puts some old theories to the test.” The Conversation. 2022.  
• https://theconversation.com/why-humans-walk-on-two-legs-a-close-look-at-chimpanzees-puts-some-old-theories-to-the-test-194193 

Saber-Tooth Cat Party   

• “5 million-year-old fossils reveal 2 new species of saber-toothed cats in South Africa.” by Harry Baker. 2023.  
• https://www.livescience.com/animals/extinct-species/5-million-year-old-fossils-reveal-2-new-species-of-saber-toothed-cats-in-south-africa 
• “Human ancestors were walking upright 7 million years ago, ancient limb bone suggests.” by Ann Gibbons. 2022.  
• https://www.science.org/content/article/human-ancestors-were-walking-upright-7-million-years-ago-ancient-limb-bone-suggests 

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