[adorno]

About five to seven million years ago, when the lineage of humans and chimpanzees split, edible root plants similar to rutabagas and turnips may have been one of the reasons.

Which came first?

Did the roots cause man to evolve and split from its chimpanzee like ancestors?

Or,

Did a genetic change occur before the chimpanzee descendant discovered that roots were edible?

Also, is a highly intelligent creature the only type that has discovered that roots are edible? Aren't there lower forms of animals that eat roots?

[From many - one.]

Many rodents and suchlike. Also various buggy things.

If the forest diminished, the clever root eaters would have a way of surviving.

It's an easy scenario to envision..forest savannah margin, desparately hungry ape pulling a a plant to eat and up pops a luscious-looking lump.