Neanderthal Genome May Be Reconstructed

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 7/6/05 | Not given

[malakhi]

German and U.S. scientists have launched a project to reconstruct the Neanderthal genome, the Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology said Wednesday.

The project, which involves isolating genetic fragments from fossils of the prehistoric beings who originally inhabited Europe, is being carried out at the Leipzig-based institute.

[snip]

"Firstly, we will learn a lot about the Neanderthals. Secondly, we will learn a lot about the uniqueness of human beings. And thirdly, it's simply cool," Rubin said.

[snip]

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[malakhi]

"Why do they feel the need to do this? Is it some sort of strange sorcery, like the words that appear on this strange box I use? I don't know, but I do know that if he ever needs an attorney, I can get him punitive damages in excess of two million dollars!"

Can the unfrozen caveman lawyer use the Chewbacca defense? It would seem to be a natural fit. ;o)

[judgeandjury]

"Firstly, we will learn a lot about the Neanderthals. Secondly, we will learn a lot about the uniqueness of human beings. And thirdly, it's simply cool," Rubin said.

Yeah, it's really groovy man.

[exDemMom]

It need not have been so brutal. When white Americans met with American Indians, for example, peaceful interbreeding frequently occured; it wasn't all wars like in the cowboy movies.

Some people right here in my own house wouldn't exist if it weren't for that peaceful interbreeding.

If it was possible for Neanderthals and homo erectus (or whatever our ancestors were) to interbreed, then, by definition, they were not two different species of human, but two subpopulations of the same species. By definition, speciation has occurred only when the offspring of such a breeding is sterile. In that case, it would not have mattered if Neanderthals and homo erectus interbred, none of the Neanderthal genes would have survived in our population.

[MississippiMan]

Thank you. You said it much better than I was able to.

Mighty welcome.

MM

[malakhi]

By definition, speciation has occurred only when the offspring of such a breeding is sterile.

Are lions and tigers different species?

[pepsionice]

There is a reason why the Neanderthals survived so long, and there is a reason why they had to die off...believed to be lack of judgement and inability to adapt. One thing is for sure....if they can accomplish this...one day they will do the Genome of T-Rex, and likely reproduce T-Rex as well...count on that.

[exDemMom]

Are lions and tigers different species?

I have not heard that a tiger/lion hybrid is able to procreate, so yes, they are separate species.

[malakhi]

I have not heard that a tiger/lion hybrid is able to procreate, so yes, they are separate species.

Lion/tiger hybrids can successfully breed with both lions and tigers. And yet no one considers lions and tigers to be the same species.

[dread78645]

I don't know why the artist chose red hair, but the freckles and light skin are probably from the discovery of Neanderthal remains in northern Europe.

The "Ginger gene". See Redheads 'are neanderthal'

[SunkenCiv]

Scot? 88 in 1938? Hmm. Maybe we're cousins. ;')

[SunkenCiv]

Here's something, possibly from another FR topic, otherwise linked from one of the places I surf for stuff.

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Reuters - Tue Jun 21,10:36 AM ET

An archaeologist holds a mandible bone attributed to Homo antecessor, dating from about 800,000 years ago, during a presentation of the latest discoveries and cataloguing at the site of the Sierra de Atapuerca in northern Spain June 20, 2005. This mandible, which shows a primitive structural pattern shared with all African and Asian Homo species, adds to the hominin sample recovered from this site between 1994 and 1996. It is the left half of a gracile mandible belonging probably to a female adult with premolars and molars in place. Picture taken June 20, 2005. REUTERS/Felix Ordoez

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[trisham]

Wow! do you realise how ignorant you sound?

************

I believe the above is incredibly callous. Not to mention, completely unnecessary.

[JZelle]

That's one good looking cavechick!

[b_sharp]

A better definition is the termination of gene flow. That then includes organisms like the Tiger and Lion who do not breed because of physical separation.

[MarkL]

This could spell bad news for Geico!

Mark

[Dimensio]

Sounded cruel? Maybe you think that the truth sounds cruel, but the fact is that your initial rant was an incredible display of your personal ignorance of the theory of evolution and the research surrounding it.

[trisham]

I have no idea what you are talking about. Good day.

[MortMan]

I was expecting this to be a discussion of Billy Jeff's family tree!

[jennyp]

You must really underestimate the Maker if you think he didn't put enough English on the cue ball to set all this in motion in one Big Bang. You belittle Him by implying that He must run just behind the bicycle and adjust it every 3 feet or else the universe will tip over, scratch its knees and cry.

LOL! That's an eloquent summary of why evolution never played a part in my becoming an atheist.