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Modern humans, not Neandertals, may be evolution's 'odd man out'
September 11, 2006Looking incorrectly at Neandertals
Could it be that in the great evolutionary "family tree," it is we Modern Humans, not the brow-ridged, large-nosed Neandertals, who are the odd uncle out?
New research published in the August, 2006 journal Current Anthropology by Neandertal and early modern human expert, Erik Trinkaus, professor of anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, suggests that rather than the standard straight line from chimps to early humans to us with Neandertals off on a side graph, it's equally valid, perhaps more valid based on what the fossils tell us, that the straight line should be from the common ancestor to the Neandertals, and the Modern Humans should be the branch off that.
Trinkaus has spent years examining the fossil record and began to realize that maybe researchers have been looking at our ancient ancestors the wrong way.
Trinkaus combed through the fossil record, identifying traits which seemed to be genetic markers - those not greatly influenced by environment, life ways and wear and tear. He was careful to examine traits that appear to be largely independent of each other to avoid redundancy.
"I wanted to see to what extent Neandertals are derived, that is distinct, from the ancestral form. I also wanted to see the extent to which modern humans are derived relative to the ancestral form," Trinkaus says. "What I came up with is that modern humans have about twice as many uniquely derived traits than do the Neandertals."
"In the broader sweep of human evolution," says Trinkaus, "the more unusual group is not Neandertals, whom we tend to look at as strange, weird and unusual, but it's us-Modern Humans. The more academic implication of this research is that we should not be trying to explain the Neandertals, which is what most people have tried to do, including myself, in the past. We wonder why Neandertals look unusual and we want to explain that. What I'm saying is that we've been asking the wrong questions."
The most unusual characteristics throughout human anatomy occur in Modern Humans, argues Trinkaus. "If we want to better understand human evolution, we should be asking why Modern Humans are so unusual, not why the Neandertals are divergent. Modern Humans, for example, are the only people who lack brow ridges. We are the only ones who have seriously shortened faces. We are the only ones with very reduced internal nasal cavities. We also have a number of detailed features of the limb skeleton that are unique.
"Every paleontologist will define the traits a little differently," Trinkaus admits. "If you really wanted to, you could make the case that Neandertals look stranger than we do. But if you are reasonably honest about it, I think it would be extraordinarily difficult to make Neandertals more derived than Modern Humans.\\\
Washington University in St. Louis
Trinkaus has spent years examining the fossil record and began to realize that maybe researchers have been looking at our ancient ancestors the wrong way.
Trinkaus combed through the fossil record, identifying traits which seemed to be genetic markers - those not greatly influenced by environment, life ways and wear and tear. He was careful to examine traits that appear to be largely independent of each other to avoid redundancy.
"I wanted to see to what extent Neandertals are derived, that is distinct, from the ancestral form. I also wanted to see the extent to which modern humans are derived relative to the ancestral form," Trinkaus says. "What I came up with is that modern humans have about twice as many uniquely derived traits than do the Neandertals."
"In the broader sweep of human evolution," says Trinkaus, "the more unusual group is not Neandertals, whom we tend to look at as strange, weird and unusual, but it's us-Modern Humans. The more academic implication of this research is that we should not be trying to explain the Neandertals, which is what most people have tried to do, including myself, in the past. We wonder why Neandertals look unusual and we want to explain that. What I'm saying is that we've been asking the wrong questions."
The most unusual characteristics throughout human anatomy occur in Modern Humans, argues Trinkaus. "If we want to better understand human evolution, we should be asking why Modern Humans are so unusual, not why the Neandertals are divergent. Modern Humans, for example, are the only people who lack brow ridges. We are the only ones who have seriously shortened faces. We are the only ones with very reduced internal nasal cavities. We also have a number of detailed features of the limb skeleton that are unique.
"Every paleontologist will define the traits a little differently," Trinkaus admits. "If you really wanted to, you could make the case that Neandertals look stranger than we do. But if you are reasonably honest about it, I think it would be extraordinarily difficult to make Neandertals more derived than Modern Humans.\\\
Washington University in St. Louis
Neandertals Current Events and Neandertals News RSSEurope's first farmers replaced their Stone Age hunter-gatherer forerunners
Analysis of ancient DNA from skeletons suggests that Europe's first farmers were not the descendants of the people who settled the area after the retreat of the ice sheets.
Diet, population size and the spread of modern humans into Europe
Accumulating carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data from fossil humans in Europe is pointing towards a significant shift in the range of animal resources exploited with the spread of modern humans into Europe 40,000 years ago.
Prehistoric cold case shows hints of interspecies homicide
The wound that ultimately killed a Neandertal man between 50,000 and 75,000 years was most likely caused by a thrown spear, the kind modern humans used but Neandertals did not, according to Duke University-led research.
Draft version of the Neanderthal genome completed
The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, in Leipzig, Germany, and the 454 Life Sciences Corporation, in Branford, Connecticut, will announce on 12 February during the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and at a simultaneous European press briefing that they have completed a first draft version of the Neandertal genome.
Neandertals, humans share key changes to 'language gene'
A new study published online on October 18th in Current Biology reveals that adaptive changes in a human gene involved in speech and language were shared by our closest extinct relatives, the Neandertals.
New research sheds light on 'hobbit'
An international team of researchers led by the Smithsonian Institution has completed a new study on Homo floresiensis, commonly referred to as the "hobbit," a 3-foot-tall, 18,000-year-old hominin skeleton, discovered four years ago on the Indonesian island of Flores.
The emerging fate of the Neandertals
For nearly a century, anthropologists have been debating the relationship of Neandertals to modern humans. Central to the debate is whether Neandertals contributed directly or indirectly to the ancestry of the early modern humans that succeeded them.
40,000-year-old skull shows both modern human and Neandertal traits
Humans continued to evolve significantly long after they were established in Europe, and interbred with Neandertals as they settled across the continent, according to new research published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA.
More human-Neandertal mixing evidence uncovered
A reexamination of ancient human bones from Romania reveals more evidence that humans and Neandertals interbred.
Meet the Earliest Baby Girl ever Discovered!
3.3 million years ago, a three year old girl died in present day Ethiopia, in an area called Dikika. Though a baby, she provides researchers with a unique account of our past, as would a grandmother. Her completeness, antiquity, and age at death combine make this find unprecedented in the history of paleoanthropology and open many new research avenues to investigate into the infancy of early human ancestors.
More Neandertals Current Events and Neandertals News Articles
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The Neandertals: Of Skeletons, Scientists, and Scandal by Erik Trinkaus (Author) To most 19th-century scholars, the Neandertals' fierce, ridged brows were evidence of a "moral darkness" that set them apart from humans. Yet by the 1970s, the Neandertals were being praised for their apparent compassion. This work reveals how different scientists came to such wildly divergent conclusions. Photos and illustrations. |
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Ancient Mysteries: The Fate of the Neandertals Starring: Artist Not Provided More than 70 thousand years ago, a clan of cave dwellers roamed the cliffs of Le Conte in Southwestern France. They were Neandertals, distant cousins to modern man. The caves, among other archaeological sites, have revealed much about Neandertals. But new disoveries have prompted more questions and mysteries. No other prehistoric group has received as much attention as the Neandertals. No other group carries such a weight of scientific and popular misconceptions or has its name associated with savagery, stupidity and animal strength. Fossils records place the last Neandertal on earth 30,000 years ago. Then they vanished. Or did they? There is more to Neandertals than their fossil remains. This hour will explore the Neandertals who, despite new and enticing clues, remain a people of... |
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Neandertals: A Prehistoric Puzzle (Discovery!) by Yvette La Pierre (Author) When the first Neandertal skeleton was discovered nearly 150 years ago, scientists presented the race as barely developed brutes. But recent findings indicate that Neandertals made complex tools, organized group hunts, cared for their sick and injured, and buried their dead. How advanced were they? How and why did they disappear? Did they live side-by-side with modern humans? |
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Neandertal Cranium Replica by Skullduggery, Inc. This sculptured series consists of four full size species which represent what the general consensus of authorities in the field believe to be the only known links to Homo sapiens. The fifth in the series, Neandertal man, represents an often disputed link in the lineage to modern man. It is from casts, photographs, published diagrams and text describing these reconstructions that sculptor Larry Williams has developed this extraordinary Hominid Series for Skullduggery. |
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Neulich im Neandertal (Atte Katte Nuwa) (Oberbayern-Version) Libero5 (Primary Contributor) |
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Ancient Mysteries: Fate of Neandertals [VHS] Starring: Ancient Mysteries |
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Close View of the Skull of a Neandertal Woman Photographic Poster Print by Kenneth Garrett, 48x64 by Art.com Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... |
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Reptilectric Revisitado Tracks: 1. Neandertal - Bufi 2. Nada - Sebastien Tellier 3. Poli - Schneider TM 4. Resiste - Colder 5. Sombras - Yamil Rezc 6. Luna - Natalia Lafourcade 7. Ultimos Dias - Panico 8. Reptilectric - Dramian & Luriel 9. Nothing - Nick McCarthy 10. Babilonia - Ryg 11. Fantasma - Mad Professor 12. No Hay Dolor - Vitamins For You Bonus Tracks: 13. Sombras - The Glimmers 14. Luna - Hello Seahorse! |
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The Cave Dwellers: Part One of the Ancient Expeditions Series (Volume 1) by Heather Christie (Author) Molly is a typical eleven year old who doesn't like homework, has played the piano since she was four, and can beat every boy in school in an arm wrestling match. She is also deaf. One day in Social Studies class they begin to study Neandertals, an ancient group of people that lived in Europe over 30,000 years ago. On her way home, Molly finds herself transported back to Ice Age Europe! She runs into a Neandertal named Anika who takes her back to her cave but the people are reluctant to keep Molly around. Can Molly fit in with the Neandertals? And how in the world will she get home? Will she be stuck in Ice Age Europe forever? |
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Nature Tube: Ice Age by Wild Republic Ice Age 10 piece set includes Neandertal cavemen and woman, woolly mammoth, smilodon (sabre-toothed tiger), a giant ground sloth, woolly rhino, camp fire, and cave painting. Figures stand up to 3 inches tall and made from slightly flexible phthalate-free plastic with painted details and names molded underneath. Reusable tube has zippered top and handle for stow-and-go fun. |
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