Posted on 08/26/2011 10:40:58 AM PDT by decimon
Sexual relations between ancient humans and their evolutionary cousins are critical for our modern immune systems, researchers report in Science journal.
Mating with Neanderthals and another ancient group called Denisovans introduced genes that help us cope with viruses to this day, they conclude.
Previous research had indicated that prehistoric interbreeding led to up to 4% of the modern human genome.
The new work identifies stretches of DNA derived from our distant relatives.
In the human immune system, the HLA (human leucocyte antigen) family of genes plays an important role in defending against foreign invaders such as viruses.
The authors say that the origins of some HLA class 1 genes are proof that our ancient relatives interbred with Neanderthals and Denisovans for a period.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
“The average Neatherdal was about 5’5, so they weren’t giants by no means, but their bone structure and density shows that the were incredibly strong.”
Hey! I’m not fat, I’m big-boned!
Thanks neverdem.
I can bench 350. In fact, I can bench 405 for a clean 3 or a messy 5.
It’s not extraordinary in any given Gold’s Gym.
Oh there is a difference.
In Gold’s gym, guys who can do that do it once. The Neantherdal had to do that all day long, because when they went hunting for mastadon or had to fight predators, those weren’t short battles.
Also, you are talking about an average, not 1 in a thousand. If we were talking about their 1 in a thousand, we’d be talking about our 1 in a million.
Oh, I agree they are larger than average, but a larger-than-average Homo Sapien Sapien would be a near equivalent.
Seriously, in my gym, I am one of 20 or 30 guys who do a 405 for reps -— just takes training and eating.
Now, north of that, it becomes a drug or freak genetic thing -— or that’s my excuse for stalling at barely above 405.
I have no reason to doubt you, but it’s still not likely a statistical average if every man went and did hardcore weight training that he would see 400 lb bench press.
The fact that you can do that keeps you going to the gym. When you can do something well, you want to keep doing it.
And, just to be clear, from the fossil record, sapiens are not thought to not be, even close to the physical strength of a Neanderthal. We were taller, our bones were not as dense, which is an indicator of physical strength.
In body-building terms, most Neanderthals were like a Franco Columbo or Ronnie Coleman and every Sapien was more like a Frank Zane.
However, Neanderthals had a much higher caloric need and because they needed to eat more, it meant more time gathering resources and less time reproducing. It is thought that this was the determining factor that eventually led to their demise and our success.
AIDS did NOT come from Africans having sex with monkeys or apes. It came from killing, butchering, and eating them undercooked. And the primates may have gotten the bug from fruit bats.
Figures it would be fruit bats.
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