Chimps on treadmills offer evolution insight

Chimps on treadmills offer evolution insight

Story Highlights
Study: Human ancestors began walking on two legs because it used less energy

Study involved chimpanzees and humans walking on treadmills

The chimps were taught to walk on the treadmill with 2 legs and on 4 legs

Chimpanzees are the closest genetic cousins to people

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Chimpanzees scampering on a treadmill have provided support for the notion that ancient human ancestors began walking on two legs because it used less energy than quadrupedal knuckle-walking, scientists said.

"This paper provides strong support for the fact that energy savings played a role in the evolution of bipedalism," one of the scientists, University of Arizona anthropologist David Raichlen, said in a telephone interview.