Missing link between man and apes found

The Telegraph ^ | 4/3/2010 | Richard Gray

[bruinbirdman]

The new species of hominid, the evolutionary branch of primates that includes humans, is to be revealed when the two-million-year-old skeleton of a child is unveiled this week.

Scientists believe the almost-complete fossilised skeleton belonged to a previously-unknown type of early human ancestor that may have been a intermediate stage as ape-men evolved into the first species of advanced humans, Homo habilis.

Homo habilis lived 2.0-1.6 million years ago and had a wide distribution in Africa

Experts who have seen the skeleton say it shares characteristics with Homo habilis, whose emergence 2.5 million years ago is seen as a key stage in the evolution of our species.

The new discovery could help to rewrite the history of human evolution by filling in crucial gaps in the scientific knowledge.

Most fossilised hominid remains are little more than scattered fragments of bone, so the discovery of an almost-complete skeleton will allow scientists to answer key questions about what our early ancestors looked like and when they began walking upright on two legs.

Palaeontologists and human evolutionary experts behind the discovery have remained silent about the exact details of what they have uncovered, but the scientific community is already abuzz with anticipation of the announcement of the find when it is made on Thursday.

The skeleton was found by Professor Lee Berger, from the University of the Witwatersrand, while exploring cave systems in the Sterkfontein region of South Africa, near Johannesburg, an area known as "the Cradle of Humanity".

The find is deemed to be so significant that Jacob Zuma, the South African president, has visited the university to view the fossils and a major media campaign with television documentaries is planned.

Professor Phillip Tobias, an eminent human anatomist and anthropologist at the university who was one

[PetroniusMaximus]

Amazing how stories like these tend to come out around Easter.

[ATX 1985]

I think it is kind of a misnomer to use the word ape when talking about evolution. Of course we have a number of skeptics here at Free Republic and they mock the idea that we came from chimps or gorillas. But of course we need to make clear to them that we are not directly related to the primates on the Earth today and that our common relative branched off millions of years ago.

I still don't see how people can refute evolution, even the Vatican buried the hatchet with Darwin as a leading official said, “In fact, what we mean by evolution is the world as created by God.”

[ATX 1985]

LOL, should i feel guilty for being so interested? Maybe you just notice these stories more when they come out around Easter.

Why does it make a difference anyway, most Christians have been able to reconcile their belief in God with Science.

[DoughtyOne]

...and it has voted in each of the last five general election cycles, in excess of 5,676,029 times. It’s registered Democrat in 36 states under 3,276,542 different identities.

In 2008 it was bussed to the local polls over 1 million times. And in 2010, it was counted 23,018,668 times in the census, over 18 million times as Hispanic and the rest Black.

[wardaddy]

did Darwin Central get sleepy

[Dallas59]

Should I post a picture of a “political” figure?

[RexFamilia]

I was created by God, but I do know of some people that descend from this “fossilized ape”.

Happy Easter.

PS: joking aside, if any freeper visits S.A. spend a day at the cave (apprx 20 clicks from jo’burg) it’s quite a sight and very interesting

[bruinbirdman]

"Should I post a picture of a “political” figure?"

Er, would that be a macacca?

Or was that Barney Franks favorite missing link, "homo erectus".

yitbos

[Just mythoughts]

I think it is kind of a misnomer to use the word ape when talking about evolution. Of course we have a number of skeptics here at Free Republic and they mock the idea that we came from chimps or gorillas. But of course we need to make clear to them that we are not directly related to the primates on the Earth today and that our common relative branched off millions of years ago. I still don't see how people can refute evolution, even the Vatican buried the hatchet with Darwin as a leading official said, “In fact, what we mean by evolution is the world as created by God.”

Peter says there are three different heaven/earth ages, and the first one was destroyed... nothing survived, this earth was shaken off its foundation. And we humans were not in flesh bodies. But in the age to come all things will be put back into order, and all that offends will be destroyed....

These remains have NO connection or ancestry to we in flesh bodies in this age, other than the commonality of substances used to create their being.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Missing link "found?"

Gee, I could have sworn we were all aware of that "link" already:

"Now I don't care who you are, that is funny!"

[ScoochDude]

Its easy to refute evolution once you realize the pattern is the same with "evolution science" as it is with "global warming science".

Make the evidence fit your already preconceived conclusion.

If you think "global warming scientist" are the only ones with an agenda, then you must not have evolved enough yet.

[fish hawk]

Yeah right!! It wont take but a few weeks to blow this one out of the water just as ALL the fairy tales like this over the years has ended up. Hoax, lies, and BS.

[ATX 1985]

Peter says there are three different heaven/earth ages, and the first one was destroyed... nothing survived, this earth was shaken off its foundation. And we humans were not in flesh bodies. But in the age to come all things will be put back into order, and all that offends will be destroyed....

These remains have NO connection or ancestry to we in flesh bodies in this age, other than the commonality of substances used to create their being.



Huh, so what does your "theory" say about dinosaurs? Of course, scientists have postulated that dinosaurs were surviving on mega fauna and were devastated by a natural disaster over 60 million years ago and it led to less resources on the planet so that mammalian creatures would eventually take over.

Of course, what these real scientists do is study the layers and the sediments to see the progression of how the Earth has changed.

SERIOUSLY folks, with all the technology out there, do you really have so little faith in forensic science? If so, I guess we better throw out quite a few criminal convictions!

I think it is a false analogy to compare evolutionary science to climate change science. Not only has evolutionary science been study for much longer by many more people, but there is a unprecedented financial incentive for these scientists to buy onto to this theory and Cap and Trade could make a lot of specific people billions of dollars. Climate Change science is just another symptom of Crony Capitalism at its worst, it is a false analogy to compare that to evolutionary science.

For God sake, most Christians don't look at the World in such an archaic way. So what if someone does believe in Evolution, am I a bad Christian or am I going to Hell? Take that dogma somewhere else please, like the Religion Section.

[chicken head]

i have found the homo habilis’s bloodline

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwL4tBdz0Fs

[fish hawk]

You are right, most Christian have no problem with science as our God invented and created it. I’m pretty sure though that that is not what you had in mind.

[chemicalman]

I thought this was a thread on Michelle Obama.

[ATX 1985]

I’m sorry, some of my post didn’t come out right. I meant to say that evolutionary science is a much more credible and time tested study while climate change scientists have a lot of financial incentive to play politics.

[ATX 1985]

Just call it Intelligent Design, sounds good to me!

[Just mythoughts]

Huh, so what does your "theory" say about dinosaurs? Of course, scientists have postulated that dinosaurs were surviving on mega fauna and were devastated by a natural disaster over 60 million years ago and it led to less resources on the planet so that mammalian creatures would eventually take over.

NOT my theory. There is no conflict with literal evidence such as the dinosaurs remains left here for our discovery and the 'overthrow' that took place that wiped out all living flesh and plant life, however many years ago. Genesis 1:2 point out this time.

Of course, what these real scientists do is study the layers and the sediments to see the progression of how the Earth has changed.

I have NO issue with the 'study' of anything. I do take issue with study done for the sole purpose of making a theory appear fact.

SERIOUSLY folks, with all the technology out there, do you really have so little faith in forensic science? If so, I guess we better throw out quite a few criminal convictions!

There is NO faith required in forensic science, it is what it is. Actually it was in the days of OJ that demonstrated to me there was NO way all of the Heavenly Fathers, born from above into flesh bodies could have come through only two people...

I think it is a false analogy to compare evolutionary science to climate change science. Not only has evolutionary science been study for much longer by many more people, but there is a unprecedented financial incentive for these scientists to buy onto to this theory and Cap and Trade could make a lot of specific people billions of dollars. Climate Change science is just another symptom of Crony Capitalism at its worst, it is a false analogy to compare that to evolutionary science.

The same 'scientific methodology' was used to claim globull warming as is used in claiming evolution took place.

For God sake, most Christians don't look at the World in such an archaic way. So what if someone does believe in Evolution, am I a bad Christian or am I going to Hell? Take that dogma somewhere else please, like the Religion Section.

Sorry my purpose on God's green earth has nothing to do with 'judging' where anyone ends up when their soul/spirit returns to the Maker that sent it. And it is everyone God given right to believe whatever they chose to believe. As it is my right to point out that some religious organizations grace a godly face on a false system of how we in these flesh bodies got here. Now the claim of the Vatican is Peter and his keys.... I have read for myself the WORDS attributed to Peter and what is claimed to be keys of his fit somebody else locks...