Posted on 12/21/2008 9:45:20 AM PST by BGHater
Neanderthals may have died out because their bodies overheated as the Earth grew warmer, according to new research.
Analysis of DNA obtained from Neanderthal remains has revealed key differences from modern humans that suggest their bodies produced excess heat.
While in the cold climate of an ice age this would have provided the species with an advantage, as the earth warmed they would have been less able to cope. Ultimately this would have caused their extinction around 24,000 years ago.
Scientists at Newcastle University have put forward the theory after examining a particular form of genetic material which was obtained from the fossilised bones of Neanderthals.
By comparing it with that found in modern humans, they discovered that Neanderthals had key differences in the sections responsible for producing energy in all living cells.
Professor Patrick Chinnery, a neurogeneticist at Newcastle University, believes the differences in this mitochondrial DNA could have caused Neanderthals to be inefficient at producing energy, meaning their cells leaked heat.
He said: "The question is why did Neanderthals disappear? There are lots of explanations to do with changes in climate and the food supply.
"Differences in these mitochondrial DNA sequences might explain why modern humans were able to survive while Neanderthals were not.
"We compared mitochondrial DNA sequences from Neanderthals that have been obtained by other researchers with a huge database of human sequences from around the world to see how different it was from modern humans.
"We found a number of differences within a certain part of the mitochondrial DNA that were quite unlike anything we see in modern humans.
"It is difficult to get a definitive answer, as it is rather like looking through a misty window. We can only get clues to what went on."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Oh well, it was fun to think about.
Bones tend to lighten (demineralize) with aging, and you often get calcium deposits in the joints. With rugged use you generally see muscle attachments that are more developed. Arthritis and some other medical conditions can make substantial changes, and those changes are pretty well studied.
But none of these changes are in the direction of Neanderthal. Take a look at the skulls, for example. Neanderthal is very much different. Aging does not lead in those directions at all. Part of the strength of Neanderthal was in the placement of muscle attachments; they were placed for more leverage and less speed that Homo sapiens. Aging would not change any of that.
It only had the first run of episodes before the strike and then it never got going again.
Oh well.
In six months this will be written as fact in high school text books.
No self respecting Neanderthal would be a democrat
It was nothing less than total liberal political correctness. I saw no redeemable qualities to it at all. The concept had so many possibilities and they choose to peddle leftist propaganda.
I'm glad it failed. I just wish the writers would learn their lessons. Print media is failing. The network news stations are failing and if Hollywood weren't charging a gazillion dollars just to see a movie they would be failing as well. NO ONE with a brain wants leftist indoctrinating them. At least no one I know does.
Now why on earth would you go and insult Methuselah like that?! What did he ever do to you?
;-)
Spontaneous combustion. It’s so easy, even a caveman can do it.
“It was nothing less than total liberal political correctness. I saw no redeemable qualities to it at all. The concept had so many possibilities and they choose to peddle leftist propaganda.”
Actually, I didn’t see it that way at all. I saw it MOCKING those things. Making fun of people for the way they act in the stereotypical liberal/college garbage.
“The network news stations are failing and if Hollywood weren’t charging a gazillion dollars just to see a movie they would be failing as well”
Wait a minute, they are NOT failing because they ARE charging a gazillion dollars? I’m confused.
And I don’t see EVERYTHING on TV as leftist indoctrination. I am smart enough to snicker at things and not get “indoctrinated”.
Sorry. I didn't mean to confuse you. Let me try to explain. I don't consider 10 or 20 people paying a gazillion dollars to watch some propaganda piece being a success. Apparently you do but my family and I will not support leftists and their vain imaginations.
And I dont see EVERYTHING on TV as leftist indoctrination. I am smart enough to snicker at things and not get indoctrinated.
As am I and I am also 'smart' enough to know when some leftwing radical is trying to indoctrinate me and switch the channel. Obviously a lot more people felt as I did with the Caveman series than you did and did likewise.
That's the beauty of the free market system. If the majority of people like something they will keep it alive. If they don't government forces it on us.
I hope this clears up your confusion.
Happy Holidays.
That's cool. You are free to see it as you will. I personally saw it as a program that wanted to force me to accept obomba as the next president. I studied propaganda in college and there is nothing I see that I don't look for the hidden messages. For example, how is it that you didn't see all the new age leftist propaganda I and so many other Americans saw?
Now I am not accusing you of anything but I find it curious. If I didn't know any better I'd think you were a leftist plant trying to soften some of the strong conservative values that are posted on FR.
But that's just me. I haven't been here long enough to know who's who yet. For all I know you could be a moderator trying to see where I'm coming from. Either way I am still happy the program was cut.
well this completely contradicts what the Naked Archeologist's show said tonite, i.e., that 5K years ago the Neandies showed up in the middle east and died out because they just weren't real good at getting the girls, lack of social skills or something like that.
best regards, blu
“That’s cool. You are free to see it as you will. I personally saw it as a program that wanted to force me to accept obomba as the next president.”
and
“If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were a leftist plant trying to soften some of the strong conservative values that are posted on FR.”
Um... Ok? Because I liked the GEICO Caveman show? I’m a leftist plant?
I’ll just leave this one alone at that.
Darn, I would have at least liked to have seen it.
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Thanks BGHater and wildbill. Somehow I missed your pings from yesterday, almost posted this topic again. And, speaking of posting something again...To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.The Neandertal EnigmaFrayer'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] |
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· Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
speaking of Patrick Chinnery:
UK scientists create embryo with three parents
The Times of India | 6 Feb 2008, 0005 hrs IST | The Times of India
Posted on 02/05/2008 11:24:18 AM PST by CarrotAndStick
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965409/posts
Embryos created with DNA from 3 people
Yahoo/AP | February 5, 2008 | Maria Cheng
Posted on 02/06/2008 8:17:41 AM PST by billorites
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1965874/posts
I'm not buying the newest global warming scare tactic - Neanderthals were able to have children with us - they merged into the gene pool.
Proves that someone other than you, AutumnRaine, might be trying to FICUS.
They don't know a FIG about what they are talking about.
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