Lice hang ancient date on first clothes: Genetic analysis puts origin at 190,000 years ago

Science News ^ | May 8th, 2010 | Bruce Bower

[SunkenCiv]

A genetic analysis of head and body lice suggests that people may have begun making and wearing clothing as early as 190,000 years ago. Credit: Janice Harney Carr, Center for Disease Control

[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]

[SunkenCiv]

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[throwback]

And O’Reilly had his segment on nude gardening the other night. So much for the progress in progressive.

[ZULU]

“since both species had already lost most body hair “

???? How do they know?

[frankenMonkey]

Mandatory Image Posting...

[JoeProBono]

[SunkenCiv]

You’re onto something there — to get a corroborating date, someone should look for really old bottles of anti-lice stuff.

[SunkenCiv]

Mmmmmm...

[JoeProBono]

[CholeraJoe]

“Momma, don’t clean no fish, cause Daddy’s gonna bring home the crabs.”

[LiteKeeper]

My understanding is that DNA is perishable, and that it can’t last that long.

[valkyry1]

New age estimates compared to the earlier estimates, they are all just a guess and should not be taken as anything else.

[SunkenCiv]

The study was done with “mitochondrial DNA from the two modern types of lice”, i.e., living lice. DNA is made up of a number of complex molecules, and of biological origin, so it will break down, or get eaten by something microscopic. Some DNA fragments have been found that go quite far back, but even in purposely preserved remains (such as Egyptian mummies) it’s hit or miss whether analyzable quantities survive. Often the samples that are best come from tooth pulp. The Heidelbergensis sample analyzed in the 1990s was mtDNA, and consisted of fewer than 400 base pairs out of a presumed original number of over 16,000. Those remains were much older than Egyptian mummies, much older than Oetzi.

[SunkenCiv]

They are educated guesses, and shouldn’t be derided as anything else.

[SunkenCiv]

I shell wish I’d thought of that.

[SunkenCiv]

“nude gardening” — so that’s what the kids are calling it now...

[valkyry1]

You project a lot. There was no derision, only a statement of fact.

[SunkenCiv]

I don’t project at all, I only stated a fact.

[throwback]

If only it was the younger set. I’m afraid it’s the old ugly people that destroyed their brains back in the day. You’d think that since they’re from the urban planner group that hates public eyesores like ad signs and sprawl, they might have some sympathy for those of us that would just as soon not be subjected to some human canvases. I can't pollute their air, but they can pollute my eyes.