Studies of a mammalian enzyme system for producing evolutionary evidence on man

Abstract

Abstract Nearly all animals have the enzymes required for the synthesis of ascorbic acid within their bodies. Man and certain monkeys are known to have an inherited lack of one of these enzymes and are thus unable to produce this important substance. It is generally assumed that the whole order of the Primates suffer from this genetic defect but no systematic tests have been conducted to verify this assumption. These tests would not be difficult to conduct by anyone with the required animals. The evidence thus obtained could prove of value in deducing which ancestor of Man lost this important biochemical system and at what point in Time it was lost.