 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Human And Neanderthal Interbreeding Reported
UPI Correspondent Bucharest, Romania (SPX) Nov 03, 2006 Romanian and U.S. scientists have found evidence modern humans and Neanderthals interbred as Homo sapiens spread across Europe 35,000 years ago. The findings are based on ancient human bones recovered from a Romanian cave, National Geographic News reported, and add to the mystery of why Neanderthals eventually became extinct. Some scientists argue Neanderthals were slaughtered or out-competed by ancestors of modern humans, but NGN said the new research, suggests a more intimate relationship, with Neanderthals becoming absorbed into the human race through interbreeding. A member of the U.S. team, Washington University anthropologist Erik Trinkaus, said although the remains are largely typical of modern humans, they also show some distinctly Neanderthal skeletal traits, including the shape of the lower jaw and the back of the skull. Trinkaus told National Geographic News those features are extremely unlikely to have come from earlier modern humans but very likely have come from Neanderthals. The team found that the fossils were 30,000 years old and principally have the diagnostic skeletal features of modern humans. They also found that the remains had other features known, among potential ancestors, primarily among the preceding Neandertals, providing more evidence there was mixing of humans and Neandertals as modern humans dispersed across Europe about 35,000 years ago. Their analysis of one skeleton's shoulder blade also shows that these humans did not have the full set of anatomical adaptations for throwing projectiles, like spears, during hunting. The study is detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Article #08443: "Early Modern Humans from the Pe?tera Muierii, Baia de Fier, Romania" by Andrei Soficaru, Adrian Dobo?, and Erik Trinkaus.
Source: United Press International Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Washington University in St. Louis Darwin Today At TerraDaily.com All About Human Beings and How We Got To Be Here All About Human Beings and How We Got To Be Here
Bush's Immigration Dilemma
Washington (UPI) Nov 01, 2006The Republican Party may save crucial southwestern seats in the midterm elections, but at the cost of badly damaging U.S long-term border security policy. The GOP has made boosting border security a central plank of its campaign strategy to try and stave off losing control of the U.S. House of Representatives and, possibly the Senate as well in the midterm congressional elections next Tuesday. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
