#1121 Deena Emera: A Brief History of the Female Body

Jul 10, 2025

In this discussion, Deena Emera, an evolutionary biologist and writer-in-residence at the Buck Institute, dives deep into the evolutionary history of the female body. She explores fascinating topics like the origins of breasts, the unique biology of menstruation, and the evolutionary significance of the female orgasm. Emera also discusses the complexities of love, motherhood, and the intriguing aspects of menopause, challenging conventional views and shedding light on the surprising adaptations that have shaped female reproductive strategies.

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INSIGHT

Biological Definition of Female

Females are biologically defined as individuals producing large gametes (eggs), while males produce small gametes (sperm).
Sexual selection explains traits that help individuals get mates, even if such traits seem disadvantageous for survival, like the peacock's tail.

INSIGHT

Evolutionary Origins of Breasts

Mammary glands evolved from ancestral sweat glands that secreted oily substances to waterproof skin and eggs.
Milk production evolved gradually with glands elaborating to secrete nutritive components, preceding the development of nipples.

INSIGHT

Why Human Breasts Are Unique

Human breasts are uniquely permanently enlarged due to fat deposits, unlike other mammals where breast tissue appears only during nursing.
Two hypotheses explain this: signaling reproductive quality or arbitrary sexual selection preference, with weak support for both.

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Dr. Deena Emera is an evolutionary biologist, author, and teacher. She is a Senior Scientist and Writer-in-Residence in the Center for Reproductive Longevity and Equality at the Buck Institute, where she is drawing on her evolutionary background and expertise on female reproduction to investigate the evolution of menopause. She is the author of A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be.

In this episode, we focus on A Brief History of the Female Body. We start by discussing what a female is. We then go through traits like breasts, menstruation, the female orgasm, female love and sexual selection, pregnancy, motherhood and mother-offspring conflict, and menopause and the grandmother hypothesis.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, AMAURI MARTÍNEZ, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, VALENTIN STEINMANN, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航豊川, TONY BARRETT, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, TED FARRIS, ROBINROSWELL, KEITH RICHARDSON, HUGO B., AND JAMES!

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