Turkish Family Walking on All Fours Baffles Scientists: A Fascinating Scientific Discovery
A family in Turkey has stunned scientists by walking on all fours, a rare condition that challenges common ideas about human evolution.
Known as the Ulas family, they gained global attention through the 2006 BBC documentary “The Family That Walks on All Fours.”
Out of 18 children, six developed a habit of walking on their palms, not their feet.
Sadly, one of them has since passed away.
Professor Nicholas Humphrey from the London School of Economics studied the family and confirmed that this behavior was unlike anything seen before in modern adults.
While some speculated that the family might represent a “missing link,” Humphrey strongly rejected this, calling it unscientific.
Research found that their skeletons showed subtle differences and that some members had smaller cerebellums, which may have affected balance.
Another theory suggests that delayed encouragement to walk upright in early childhood could have contributed to the unusual behavior.
Thanks to therapy and walking aids, the family has shown remarkable improvement.
Their story is a powerful reminder of human adaptability and how science is still learning about the complexities of human development.
