Evolution of specifically human periods of life – extended childhood and
adolescence is discussed in the context of the entire process of reproduction. The
essential characteristic of life is transfer of information from one generation to the next.
Material structure of living things undergoes constant flux – old molecules are shed and
new molecules are incorporated into cells – but the arrangement of parts of organisms
remains largely the same, they contain the same information. Information is defined
here as a particular arrangement of things. Such arrangement may remain the same
even when actual objects are exchanged. Since individuals are perishable, the only way
to maintain continuity of life is by passing information about organism’s structure to
newly produced individuals – the offspring. This process of reproduction commonly
involves sexual combination of genetic information. The evolution of human sexuality
with its hormonal regulation is discussed and biological foundations of human love and
other complex emotions are suggested.
Keywords: Adolescence, Amenorrhea, Childhood, Fecundity, Genetic
information, Menarche, Ovulatory crypsis, Reproduction, Sexual behavior.
