[Textide]

"compounds in the charred parts of cooked fish and meat were capable of damaging cellular and bacterial DNA in test tube experiments."

One man's damage is another man's fortunate mutation. Maybe cooking meat over fires led to man's rise...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Maybe cooking meat over fires led to man's rise...

In all seriousness probably. Cooked food gives you more calories for less effort which meant less time spent chewing food and more time doing other things.

We are the only species that cooks and we all cook. Forget tool making, cooking is what made us who we are.