Oldest known human ancestor rewrites evolution theories

Canada.com ^ | October 1, 2009 | Ken Meaney

[Pharmboy]

Probable life appearance in anterior view of Ardipithecus ramidus ("Ardi"), ARA-VP 6/500.Photograph by: Handout, Illustrations 2009, J.H. Matternes

An international team of scientists unveiled Thursday the results of 15 years of study of one of the oldest known human ancestors, Ardipithecus ramidus, which they say overturns much of what we know about human evolution.

And surprisingly, it's also rewriting the story of our relation to gorillas and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, and their development as well.

Yohannes Haile-Selassie, one of the authors involved in the research and the man who discovered the first pieces of the most complete Ardipithecus ramidus specimen, nicknamed Ardi by the researchers, says the findings represent a complete rewrite about what is known about human and ape evolution, and give new insight into how we became bipedal.

"What we are seeing . . . is something we never expected to find in the human lineage," he says, his voice buoyant on the phone from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, where he is Curator/Head Physical Anthropology.

[Pharmboy]

Let the games begin...

[Pharmboy]

Purty, ain’t she?

[humblegunner]

My word!

Early humans had no genitals???

[Pharmboy]

As Jerry Lewis would say: “She’s a LAYYY-DEEEE....

[MrB]

Did they find another pig tooth?

How long before they set up a display showing the social structure in which this tooth lived?

[freedumb2003]

O M G — more detailed information that may change some details of TToE.

That’s it!!! The TToE is finished! Done I tell you! If we know that any aspect of TToE is subject to revision, then ALL aspects are of no value!

The TToE is more! It has ceased to be! It is an ex-theory! It has joined the choir and vestibule! If you hadn’t nailed Dembsky to the lectern it would be pushing up daisies!

[SkyDancer]

Well of course these two predate it ....

[mnehring]

Darn it, I knew I should have left the curtains closed when I took a shower..

[grey_whiskers]

The researchers say the surprising findings mean chimps and gorillas have specialized greatly since then and are poor models for a common ancestor and for understanding human abilities such as walking.

Whoops, there goes using the bonobos as the excuse for unlimited sexual license, eh?

Cheers!

[Nosterrex]

For a moment I thought this picture was taken in Copenhagen.

[stephenjohnbanker]

LOL!!

[stephenjohnbanker]

ZOT..... :_)

[MrB]

Now that’s funny right there...

Gooniegoogoo.

[a fool in paradise]

You know what they say about big hands...

[allmendream]

Before bonobo behavior was described within the last couple decades, it was thought that WE were the most sexual of the primates.

Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and gibbons are all quite a bit less sexually active than humans.

[lovecraft]

Aunt Bunny is here....

[ml/nj]

a complete rewrite about what is known about human and ape evolution

I thought all this was layin' flat according to some of the folks here (and a lot of the folks not here too). A "complete rewrite" huh? I wonder how many of the exhibits in the American Museum of Natural History (NYC) will be taken down in the next year because of this. (My own guess is zero.)

ML/NJ

[jmax]

Just as I suspected........another White House press release on Michelle.

[The Comedian]

[ExTxMarine]

Obviously you do not understand the how this finding will “enhance” TToE. Just give them a little time to fit it into their religion and then we argue. /sarc off