R
Robert Karl Sto
Guest
Neanderthals 'not close family' By Paul Rincon
The Neanderthals were not close relatives of modern humans and represent a single species quite
distinct from our own, scientists say. 3D comparisons of Neanderthal, modern human and other primate
skulls confirm theories that the ancient people were a breed apart, the researchers report.
Others claim Neanderthals contributed significantly to the modern gene pool.
Details of the research are published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences.
"If we accept that Neanderthals were not the same species, what we're really saying is they did not
contribute at all to modern human populations and in particular modern Europeans," co-author Dr
Katerina Harvati of New York University, US, told BBC News Online
Ancestral contribution
Researchers collected data on 15 standard "landmarks", or features, on over 1,000 primate skulls.
Computer software transformed this data into 3D coordinates for each skull and superimposed them on
each other.
Using statistical analysis, they compared differences between modern human and Neanderthal skulls
with those found between and within 12 primate species.
The results support the view that Neanderthals were indeed a distinct species.
However, other researchers view Neanderthals as a sub-species or population of **** sapiens that
passed on genes to modern humans either by evolving into them or by interbreeding with them.
Read the rest at BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3431609.stm
Comment: Interbreeding with Neanderthals? This may be evidence of dimly lit stone age pubs (it would
take a strong brew to make a hairy chested Neanderthal chick look attractive - and when they get
that inebriated, even chimp and gorilla would be getting Cromagnon guys horny).
--
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek.
The Neanderthals were not close relatives of modern humans and represent a single species quite
distinct from our own, scientists say. 3D comparisons of Neanderthal, modern human and other primate
skulls confirm theories that the ancient people were a breed apart, the researchers report.
Others claim Neanderthals contributed significantly to the modern gene pool.
Details of the research are published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences.
"If we accept that Neanderthals were not the same species, what we're really saying is they did not
contribute at all to modern human populations and in particular modern Europeans," co-author Dr
Katerina Harvati of New York University, US, told BBC News Online
Ancestral contribution
Researchers collected data on 15 standard "landmarks", or features, on over 1,000 primate skulls.
Computer software transformed this data into 3D coordinates for each skull and superimposed them on
each other.
Using statistical analysis, they compared differences between modern human and Neanderthal skulls
with those found between and within 12 primate species.
The results support the view that Neanderthals were indeed a distinct species.
However, other researchers view Neanderthals as a sub-species or population of **** sapiens that
passed on genes to modern humans either by evolving into them or by interbreeding with them.
Read the rest at BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3431609.stm
Comment: Interbreeding with Neanderthals? This may be evidence of dimly lit stone age pubs (it would
take a strong brew to make a hairy chested Neanderthal chick look attractive - and when they get
that inebriated, even chimp and gorilla would be getting Cromagnon guys horny).
--
Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek.