[Graeme]

Research confirms theory that all modern humans descended from the same small group of people

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')esearchers have produced new DNA evidence that almost certainly confirms the theory that all modern humans have a common ancestry.

The research confirms the “Out Of Africa” hypothesis that all modern humans stem from a single group of Homo sapiens who emigrated from Africa 2,000 generations ago and spread throughout Eurasia over thousands of years. These settlers replaced other early humans (such as Neanderthals), rather than interbreeding with them.

[Ayame]

I wonder how our ancestors went about 'replacing' the other early humans.

[Graeme]

Ayame, I'm glad you asked that question because I just happened to see a news article recently explaining why Neanderthals died out in Europe.

Climate Change Pushed Neanderthal Into Extinction In Iberian Peninsula, Spanish Researcher Says

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he study is based upon climate reconstructions elaborated from marine records and using the experience of Spanish and international research groups on Western Mediterranean paleoceanography. The conclusions point out that Neanderthal populations did suffer fluctuations related to climate changes before the first Homo Sapiens arrived in the Iberian Peninsula. Cold, arid and highly variable climate was the least favourable weather for Neanderthals and 24,000 years ago they had to face the worst weather conditions in the last 250,000 years.

[Graeme]

I'd like to go back to human origins again because Chinese scientists have found a gene which distinguishes humans from chimpanzees. Human's originate in Africa about 100,000-150,000 years ago (they migrated out of Africa about 50,000 years ago). Humans split from chimpanzees less than about 5 million years ago.

Gene mutation linked to cognition is found only in humans

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he human and chimpanzee genomes vary by just 1.2 percent, yet there is a considerable difference in the mental and linguistic capabilities between the two species. A new study showed that a certain form of neuropsin, a protein that plays a role in learning and memory, is expressed only in the central nervous systems of humans and that it originated less than 5 million years ago. The study, which also demonstrated the molecular mechanism that creates this novel protein, will be published online in Human Mutation, the official journal of the Human Genome Variation Society.

[Aaron]

Yes

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

The Toba eruption also cut the population down to a few thousand 75,000 years ago.

[Ayame]

yeah but what happened to homo erectus and homo habilis etc?

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ayame', 'y')eah but what happened to homo erectus and homo habilis etc?

[Niagara]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '[')b]Research confirms theory that all modern humans descended from the same small group of people

[Aaron]

I'm sure you have some point you're making...

[Newsseeker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'I')'m sure you have some point you're making...

[Newsseeker]

Since we're all related get I get you guys to build an ecovillage for me?

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Raphael', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Aaron', 'I')'m sure you have some point you're making...

[skiwi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Niagara', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '[')b]Research confirms theory that all modern humans descended from the same small group of people

[bobaloo]

Rapael, I researched GIPSY analysis and it appears to me a means of tracking the movement of tectonic plates / earth's crust with extreme accuracy, claimed to be able measure movements of less than 1 mm per year.

I've read the Flem-Ath books too, interesting ideas, maybe someday we can find some better evidence to support the hypothesis.

[basil_hayden]

Why consider the fossil/geologic/DNA evidence when we have Raphael's pretty pictures?

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Niagara', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '[')b]Research confirms theory that all modern humans descended from the same small group of people