DNA identifies new ancient human dubbed 'X-woman'

[muriel_volestrangler]

Scientists have identified a previously unknown type of ancient human through analysis of DNA from a finger bone unearthed in a Siberian cave.

The extinct "hominin" (human like creature) lived in Central Asia between 48,000 and 30,000 years ago.

An international team has sequenced genetic material from the fossil showing that it is distinct from that of Neanderthals and modern humans.

Details of the find, dubbed "X-woman", have been published in Nature journal.

Ornaments were found in the same ground layer as the finger bone, including a bracelet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8583254.stm

[Warpy]

1. It seems there were likely a lot of hominid species arising at the same time

and it would be interesting to know if we wiped them out or simply interbred them out. It wouldn't change anything, but it would be interesting.

[rusty quoin]

3. You might be interested in this Nova interview.

"Well, one thing that's part of the adaptability our own species has evolved is an ability to diversify our options. We have different cultures. We're characterized by cultural diversity in a way that no previous early human had been. One wonders whether this may be our ultimate card to success, as long as we can keep those options open. Neanderthals were the Ice Age specialists. Homo erectus, while spread over a wide area, had essentially one way of life, and ultimately their way of life became extinct. Human beings today are all over the place in terms of the many diverse ways we live, and so perhaps that will be the most important thing with regard to the success of the only remaining human species today."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/beta/evolution/adaptable-human.html

[old mark]

2. She had jewelry - she must be related to my wife and her cousin....nt

[frogmarch]

4. Fascinating! Now I will

Have something new to keep me awake all night thinking and wondering and imagining!

The article mentioned the so-called human "Hobbit" find. I saw a TV program about it last night, in which it seemed that most scientists were leaning toward the specimen representing a small microcephalic adult. Many people living today on the island are also very small, and it was suggested that if one of them had microcephaly, s/he would probably resemble the "Hobbit."

Human evolution is really interesting.

[semillama]

5. I think I've seen that program, and it's really out of date

The reverse is actually true - most scientists now accept that the "Hobbit" is not only a distinct species, but may in fact not be descended from Home erectus at all, but rather a hominid like H. habilis - based on some of the morphology of the ankle bones, I believe.

[frogmarch]

6. Well, that

is certainly interesting. I'll see what I can find out about it on the internets. Thanks!

[semillama]

7. Here's a recent article:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100317-hobbits-flores-stone-tools-million/

[frogmarch]

8. Thanks. According to the article,

nothing has really changed with regard to the Hobbit find. The original Hobbit research team continues to insist that the find represents a valid species, which they named
Homo floresiensis, and on the other side there are still scientists who disagree, saying that the Hobbit find represents a modern human with genetic defects.

So, the jury is still out.