Comments on: A New Human Species? http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Larian LeQuella http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-20171 Larian LeQuella Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:18:39 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-20171 One well documented genetic bottleneck is from around 70,000 years ago (well before the world was even created). Many speculate this was the result of a super volcano that blew it's top in the region of the world where Malaysia currently sits. And yes, the huan species has a very small genetic diversity for a mamilian species. Such lack of diversity is actually a very bad trait, and could spell the doom of our species! One well documented genetic bottleneck is from around 70,000 years ago (well before the world was even created). Many speculate this was the result of a super volcano that blew it’s top in the region of the world where Malaysia currently sits.

And yes, the huan species has a very small genetic diversity for a mamilian species. Such lack of diversity is actually a very bad trait, and could spell the doom of our species!

]]> By: Robo Sapien http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19804 Robo Sapien Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:01:51 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19804 I'm sorry, but that is all incredibly wrong. Did you check ANY facts before you wrote that? I hate to sound mean, but that kind of ignorant spouting is completely counter-productive to skepticism. The migration was not a road trip, it was a long process of inching towards more favorable climate. Furthermore, the discovery of a neanderthal boat would turn the science on its head. As for the brains, it WAS a slow process. We didn't spontaneously mutate an amazing super brain one day and go "Aw sweet, I'm smart dude!" I’m sorry, but that is all incredibly wrong. Did you check ANY facts before you wrote that? I hate to sound mean, but that kind of ignorant spouting is completely counter-productive to skepticism.

The migration was not a road trip, it was a long process of inching towards more favorable climate. Furthermore, the discovery of a neanderthal boat would turn the science on its head. As for the brains, it WAS a slow process. We didn’t spontaneously mutate an amazing super brain one day and go “Aw sweet, I’m smart dude!”

]]> By: nowimnothing http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19784 nowimnothing Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:26:24 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19784 Several genetic bottlenecks have occurred (some estimated down to a few thousand individuals) which would have greatly decreased genetic diversity. I understand your point and agree, but dogs or other domestic animals may not be the best example as they just show how flexible limited genetics can be when subjected to artificial selection. I bet we could get some of the same kinds of results even within the limited genetics of humans if we were willing to subject each other to that kind of selection. Several genetic bottlenecks have occurred (some estimated down to a few thousand individuals) which would have greatly decreased genetic diversity. I understand your point and agree, but dogs or other domestic animals may not be the best example as they just show how flexible limited genetics can be when subjected to artificial selection. I bet we could get some of the same kinds of results even within the limited genetics of humans if we were willing to subject each other to that kind of selection.

]]> By: GoneWithTheWind http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19769 GoneWithTheWind Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:03:09 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19769 It seems more likely then not that Neanderthals didn't simply disappear but were incorporated into the genetic pool. -- It also is more likely that the first immigrants to the new world did not walk here over 6000 miles of ice but arrived on boats or rafts. I do know how difficult that journey would be for ancient mankind but I also know it would be far easier then traveling that distance on ice and snow. -- One more less controversial point: probably most important evolutionary changes, such as bigger brains, were not a slow process but a sudden change as a result of a fortunate birth defect or anomaly. These happen all the time and when they favor survival they flourish. It seems more likely then not that Neanderthals didn’t simply disappear but were incorporated into the genetic pool. — It also is more likely that the first immigrants to the new world did not walk here over 6000 miles of ice but arrived on boats or rafts. I do know how difficult that journey would be for ancient mankind but I also know it would be far easier then traveling that distance on ice and snow. — One more less controversial point: probably most important evolutionary changes, such as bigger brains, were not a slow process but a sudden change as a result of a fortunate birth defect or anomaly. These happen all the time and when they favor survival they flourish.

]]> By: Robo Sapien http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19765 Robo Sapien Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:22:52 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19765 Perhaps she told that very same joke, and time itself just stopped as the entire human species failed to laugh. Perhaps she told that very same joke, and time itself just stopped as the entire human species failed to laugh.

]]> By: DocBrown http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19758 DocBrown Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:14:31 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19758 I can see only two explanations for this Woman-X: One, she is the product of an alien human hybrid. Thus explaining the DNA issues. Or two, as Robo Sapien says, she's one of homo sapien's biological descendents, only she is from the future! Which explains why she is the only specimen. She came back in time and got trapped here. I love science! ;-) I can see only two explanations for this Woman-X:

One, she is the product of an alien human hybrid. Thus explaining the DNA issues.

Or two, as Robo Sapien says, she’s one of homo sapien’s biological descendents, only she is from the future! Which explains why she is the only specimen. She came back in time and got trapped here.

I love science! ;-)

]]> By: Robo Sapien http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19756 Robo Sapien Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:50:22 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19756 Boredom. It is the signature of human condition. Boredom. It is the signature of human condition.

]]> By: Johnny Slick http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19749 Johnny Slick Tue, 30 Mar 2010 07:41:29 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19749 One of the things that I find fascinating, especially given discoveries like this, is how genetically indistinct humanity is. You'd expect that a species that has been around for a couple million years would have heavily varied sub-species, but we really don't. There are cosmetic differences between the so-called races (which have far, far, far more in common than, for example, races of different dogs, or even horses/zebras and chimps/bonobos), but genetically that's just about it from what I've gathered. This is further proof that we descended from Christian space aliens, and that is why vaccines give us autism cancer. One of the things that I find fascinating, especially given discoveries like this, is how genetically indistinct humanity is. You’d expect that a species that has been around for a couple million years would have heavily varied sub-species, but we really don’t. There are cosmetic differences between the so-called races (which have far, far, far more in common than, for example, races of different dogs, or even horses/zebras and chimps/bonobos), but genetically that’s just about it from what I’ve gathered.

This is further proof that we descended from Christian space aliens, and that is why vaccines give us autism cancer.

]]> By: LovleAnjel http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19743 LovleAnjel Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:39:38 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19743 They would certainly have been converted to Christianity long ago. They would certainly have been converted to Christianity long ago.

]]> By: Jason http://www.skepticblog.org/2010/03/29/a-new-human-species/#comment-19742 Jason Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:47:28 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=7387#comment-19742 Why would any human species would find it preferable to migrate to an unforgiving environment, such as Siberia, when there were endless opportunities in milder more hospitable climes for establishing communities. It's a real wonderment. Why would any human species would find it preferable to migrate to an unforgiving environment, such as Siberia, when there were endless opportunities in milder more hospitable climes for establishing communities. It’s a real wonderment.

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