The Female Body Is a Masterpiece of Evolution—and a Mystery

Deena Emera shares 5 key insights from A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be.

How much do you really know about the female body? Whether you're a woman or not, the intricacies of female anatomy remain a mystery to many—largely due to centuries of under-research compared to male biology. Evolutionary geneticist Deena Emera aims to demystify and celebrate the female form in her groundbreaking book, A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be. As a senior scientist and writer-in-residence at the Center for Reproductive Longevity and Equality at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Deena draws on cutting-edge science and evolutionary insights to illuminate the fascinating story of the human female. Scroll down to hear her share some of the key ideas from her work.

The 5 Key Insights:

1. We are related to all organisms on the planet, including chimpanzees, elephants, eagles, and even fish.

2. We can solve the mysteries of our bodies by considering our female relatives and ancestors.

3. Cooperation and conflict during pregnancy and beyond.

4. Women face many health challenges because we live in a rapidly changing world, but still have the bodies of our ancestors.

5. We can use evolutionary knowledge to build a healthier and more empowered future for women (and men).

Hear Deena explain the mysteries of the female form: