pen said:Why are domestic animals as "toddlers" smarter than the domesticator's equivalent? Why are our kids so "weak" for so long?
Regardless, food for thought.
One prevailing idea is that our large brains=large skulls which run up against the limiting factor of pelvis size in women, particularly a pelvis that supports upright posture and bipedal locomotion. The readers digest version is that, when comparing our species to others of a similar life span, gestation should be ~2yrs. Homonid babies are born "pre-mature" so the skull can pass through the pelvis.
Fun stuff!