SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: tejek who wrote (246343)8/17/2005 1:41:12 AM
From: Jim McMannis  Read Replies (1) of 1572157
 
RE"Neanderthals are not part of our ancestry? Can you tell I don't have a science background?"

Much confusion about the history of our species stems from people mistaking the names of discrete skeletal remains with names of distinct species. In fact, the skeletal remains are derived from three distinct species in the genus Homo. The Peking Man and Java Man skeletons are both members of the Homo erectus species, thanks to new DNA evidence, the Neandertal Man skeleton is now classified as a member of the Homo neandertalis species, and the Cro-Magnon Man and Cheddar Man skeletons are members of the Homo sapiens species. Homo erectus was the ancestral species that gave rise to Homo sapiens and Homo neandertalis, two (probably unrelated) sister species. You and I and everyone else on earth are all members of the Homo sapiens species.

The reason why the Homo erectus and Homo neandertalis species went extinct is a big mystery. Homo erectus had a smaller brain than Homo neandertalis or Homo sapiens, so members of that species might not have been able to keep up with the competition. But there seem to be some instances where all three species lived in the same place at the same time. All we really know is that for about 40,000 years, Homo sapiens has been the only species in the genus Homo.

So no, we didn't evolve from Neandertal. Likely Cro-Magnon and neandertal co-existed but didn't cross breed very much. One explaination of why Neandertal extincted in that Cro-Magnon simply had a higher birthrate and displaced it. This could have happened in as little as 1000 years.

It's my contention however, that Neantertal genes still exist today.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News