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Neanderthal and Human Matings Get a Date
Smithsonian 'blogs ^
| August 15, 2012
| Erin Wayman
Posted on 08/21/2012 3:03:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Two years ago the analysis of the Neanderthal genome revealed modern humans carry Neanderthal DNA, implying our ancestors mated with Neanderthals at some point in the past. Scientists only found genetic traces of Neanderthals in non-African people, leading to the conclusion that Neanderthal-human matings must have occurred as modern humans left Africa and populated the rest of the world. A new paper (PDF) posted on arXiv.org puts a date on those matings: 47,000 to 65,000 years ago...
To determine what really happened, Sankararaman's team looked at rates of genetic change to estimate when Neanderthals and humans last exchanged genes. If the shared DNA was due to interbreeding, the team expected to find a date less than 100,000 years ago -- some time after humans left Africa. But if it was the result of sharing a common ancestor, they expected a date older than 230,000 years ago, approximately when Neanderthals and modern humans split from each other. The team's findings support the interbreeding scenario: 47,000 to 65,000 years ago.
Neanderthals aren't the only archaic species that may have contributed to the modern human gene pool. Denisovans, known from only a tooth and a finger bone, left a genetic mark in people living in Melanesia and Southeast Asia. And recent genetic evidence suggests that some ancient African populations mated with an unidentified, now-extinct hominid species that lived in Africa.
So far, our knowledge of Neanderthal and Denisovan genetics comes from only a few individuals, so our understanding of interspecies mating is likely to change as more Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA is analyzed.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.smithsonianmag.com ...
TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals
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1
posted on
08/21/2012 3:03:27 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve
in local libraries
Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]
KEYWORDS: neandertal; neandertals; neanderthal; neanderthals
2
posted on
08/21/2012 3:03:54 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: sauropod
3
posted on
08/21/2012 3:05:45 PM PDT
by
sauropod
(Only two of God's creatures can employ the term "we": newspaper editors and men with tapeworms-Hayes)
To: Renfield; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; decimon; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; ...
4
posted on
08/21/2012 3:06:04 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv
"Cozy Cave Dating Service, we find 'em, you club 'em."
"Yes sir, will that be Neanderthal or not?"
To: SunkenCiv
How long have I been saying:
"We Are Neanderthals."
6
posted on
08/21/2012 3:22:51 PM PDT
by
blam
To: SunkenCiv
As the old song goes
” I am the ape man....”
7
posted on
08/21/2012 3:26:03 PM PDT
by
njslim
(St)
To: SunkenCiv
As the old song goes
” I am the ape man....”
8
posted on
08/21/2012 3:26:13 PM PDT
by
njslim
(St)
To: colorado tanker
“Cozy Cave Dating Service, we find ‘em, you club ‘em.”
Hey babe want to go back to my cave and see the paintings...
9
posted on
08/21/2012 3:27:37 PM PDT
by
njslim
(St)
To: njslim
10
posted on
08/21/2012 3:35:04 PM PDT
by
dfwgator
To: SunkenCiv
There are four major theories on the neanderthals. There is a maze of ancient critters that do not fit together to well so consensus is far in the future yet. The Leaky {sp}family has made another discovery of something older than Lucy and the DNA of a finger bone has brought us another unknown species. There is a lot of work to yet.
11
posted on
08/21/2012 3:39:33 PM PDT
by
mountainlion
(I am voting for Sarah after getting screwed again by the DC Thugs.)
To: njslim
Sure. Best offer I've had in a long time!
To: SunkenCiv
13
posted on
08/21/2012 3:42:15 PM PDT
by
Gator113
(I would have voted for NEWT, now it's Ryan and the other guy.~Just livin' life, my way~)
To: blam
Y’know, Neanderthal is just a German word for a guy from the next valley over.
14
posted on
08/21/2012 3:45:51 PM PDT
by
patton
(more than 250 times less revenue, at a high rate of speed - Obama)
To: dfwgator
I expected no less my FRiend. ;)
To: patton
"Yknow, Neanderthal is just a German word for a guy from the next valley over. " Yup.
Neander Valley.
16
posted on
08/21/2012 3:53:03 PM PDT
by
blam
To: SunkenCiv
Yes, unquestionably.
I have long suspected that about Mrs. Lurkin's family...
17
posted on
08/21/2012 4:03:59 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
(This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
To: blam
It was named by one Joachim Neumann.
From The Neanderthals by Friedemann Schrenk and Stephanie Mueller (English translation, 2009, by Phyllis Jestice), p. 2:
"The Neander Valley near Mettmann, the discovery site of the first fossil evidence of primordial humans, was named after the Bremen theologian and hymnographer Joachim Neumann (composer of "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation"). As was fashionable in 1670, he used the Greek translation of his name, "Neander" (Newman), in compliment to antiquity."
To: Verginius Rufus
Hmmm.
Interesting.
Six degrees of seperation = Paul Newman?
19
posted on
08/21/2012 4:09:25 PM PDT
by
blam
To: SunkenCiv
DNA Reveals Neanderthal Redheadshttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2018955/posts Harvard Gazette ^ | 2007 | Steve Bradt
"
With Neanderthals surviving bones providing few clues, scientists have long sought to flesh out the appearance of this hominid species found across Eurasia some 28,000 to 400,000 years ago. While anthropologists had predicted that Neanderthals might have had pale skin or red hair, the new work by Römpler and colleagues offers the first strong evidence to support this hunch."
Ancient DNA Reveals Neandertals With Red Hair, Fair Complexionshttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1917675/posts Science Magazine ^ | 2007-10-26 | Elizabeth Culotta
"
The researchers conclude that at least some Neandertals had pale skin and red hair, similar to some of the Homo sapiens who today inhabit their European homeland."
Neanderthals Roamed As Far As Siberiahttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1904573/posts New Scientist ^ | 9-30-2007 | Roxanne Khamsi
"
Researchers say the genetic sequence of an adolescent Neanderthal found in southern Siberia closely matches that of Neanderthals found in western Europe, suggesting that this close relative of modern humans migrated very long distances."
Siberian Graveyard's Secret (More Redheads)http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1053986/posts International Herald Tribune ^ | 1-8-2003
"
In a medieval Siberian graveyard a few miles south of the Arctic Circle, Russian scientists have unearthed mummies roughly 1,000 years old, clad in copper masks, hoops and plates - burial rites that archaeologists say they have never seen before...In the remains of a metalworking shop, the researchers excavated a wooden sarcophagus with the best-preserved mummy of all, a red-haired man covered chest to foot in copper plate and laid out with an iron hatchet, well-preserved furs and a bronze bear's head buckle."
20
posted on
08/21/2012 4:44:40 PM PDT
by
familyop
(Duncan Hunter or no-vote.)
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