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Why Men Don't Have Sensory Whiskers and Spiny Genitals

Posted by samzenpus on from the we'd-need-different-pants dept.

sciencehabit writes "Most male mammals wield a penis covered with spines made of keratin, the same material that forms fingernails, to sweep out competitors' sperm and irritate a female into ovulating. Even chimpanzees, our closest relatives, have penile spines. So why don't men? A new study suggests that this feature disappeared due to a chunk of DNA that went missing after our evolutionary divergence from chimps. The researchers have identified another DNA deletion that may have contributed to humans' bigger brains."

8 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. That would be useful. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because I'm good at irritating females, yet somehow it doesn't lead to their ovulating.

  2. Huh? by eln · · Score: 4, Funny

    What, you mean these spines on my penis aren't normal?

    I'd better go see a doctor.

    1. Re:Huh? by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd better go see a doctor.

      Or a veterinarian.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    2. Re:Huh? by Kelbin · · Score: 5, Funny

      What, you mean these spines on my penis aren't normal?

      I'd better go see a doctor.

      I think it means you should stop shagging hedgehogs.

    3. Re:Huh? by Bovius · · Score: 4, Funny

      These comments are just bristling with penis jokes.

    4. Re:Huh? by geminidomino · · Score: 4, Funny

      No need to get prickly. It's all in good humor, you don't have to be a dick.

  3. Only reason this made front page... by g0bshiTe · · Score: 4, Funny

    The phrase "wield a penis" appears in it.

    --
    I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
  4. Obvious answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    All the women had sex with the first freak born without them.