[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The Homo erectus of China (Peking Man) of 400,000 years ago had specific dental and cranial traits that are unique to present-day Asians.

Explain that, PC-liars.

If I understand NPR correctly, (a big IF) the theory is that these early humanoids (including the Neanderthals) represent an evolutionary dead end, they have left no present day descendants. So the theory is at consistent, at least.

Personally, I'll keep an open mind.

[Pharmboy]

Please keep an open mind ready to interpret new data as it arises. Neanderthals MAY have been a dead-end (the issue has not been resolved yet) but the Asian Homo erectus was not a dead end; the PC-paleoanthropologists would like us to believe that, but data argues against it.

[Francohio]

Listen Lonesome, Give your late Neandertal a haircut, jeans, a tee shirt, and a driver's license and I will show you his brothers in every seaport on the Mediterranean.

5"5", Complete with eyebrow ridge, bandy legs, huge chest and arm muscles, very hirsute, etc. In fact, all over Europe, there are little pockets of people who look like Neandertal hybrids.

On the other hand, your basic Massachusetts Kennedy voter doesn't look at all like a hybrid. I'd wager straight Neandertal, or a simian/homo semi-erectus cross.