Longer Gestation Period

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True Likely Speculative

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Human Uniqueness Compared to "Great Apes":

Absolute Difference

MOCA Domain:

Reproductive Biology and Disease

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Human gestation period averages 267 days, as opposed to chimpanzees at ~235 days, gorillas at ~260 days, and orangutans at ~250 days. Human gestation is relatively and absolutely long for average maternal body weight. This increase in gestation period in humans has been related to increased brain size in humans relative to apes. There is also a greater variation in the gestation period in humans