New Human Relative? - And the Plot Thickens

[Jimbeaux]

It appears that human evolution has many B Roads, not just a wide straight freeway:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/ap_on_sc/us_sc...

[Eric Mc]

That's been suspected all along. Lots of species have had parallel strands that died out. I wouldn't expect the human race to be much different.

[MOTORVATOR]

Scientists in stating the bleeding obvious shocker.



I can think of hundreds of examples where they could reverse engineer a DNA test to find the missing link.

Edited by MOTORVATOR on Saturday 25th December 04:17

[Jimbeaux]

MOTORVATOR said:

Scientists in stating the bleeding obvious shocker.



I can think of hundreds of examples where they could reverse engineer a DNA test to find the missing link.

Edited by MOTORVATOR on Saturday 25th December 04:17

And there we have it!

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Not far removed from those that appear on the daily dose of Jeremy Kyle.

[thinfourth2]

Its the Welsh you tard

[Jasandjules]

Jimbeaux said:

It appears that human evolution has many B Roads, not just a wide straight freeway:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/ap_on_sc/us_sc...

Well, that's evolution for you.

Different adaptions which work for a time but then other factors eliminate that...

[Jimbeaux]

Jasandjules said:

Jimbeaux said:

It appears that human evolution has many B Roads, not just a wide straight freeway:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/ap_on_sc/us_sc...

Well, that's evolution for you.

Different adaptions which work for a time but then other factors eliminate that...

Those pics above would indicate that certain strains that should have deadended thrives on.

[torniquet]

Aliens!

[Flintstone]

Evolutionary dead end? History is littered with them.

[BeeRoad]

Jimbeaux said:

Jasandjules said:

Jimbeaux said:

It appears that human evolution has many B Roads, not just a wide straight freeway:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/ap_on_sc/us_sc...

Well, that's evolution for you.

Different adaptions which work for a time but then other factors eliminate that...

Those pics above would indicate that certain strains that should have deadended thrives on.

That's because evolution expected survival of the fittest, but we all ruined it's plans by getting together and inventing welfare where the fittest club together to keep the evolutionary dead-ends from dying out.

[Jimbeaux]

BeeRoad said:

Jimbeaux said:

Jasandjules said:

Jimbeaux said:

It appears that human evolution has many B Roads, not just a wide straight freeway:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/ap_on_sc/us_sc...

Well, that's evolution for you.

Different adaptions which work for a time but then other factors eliminate that...

Those pics above would indicate that certain strains that should have deadended thrives on.

That's because evolution expected survival of the fittest, but we all ruined it's plans by getting together and inventing welfare where the fittest club together to keep the evolutionary dead-ends from dying out.

Thus, seeding our own demise?

[Flintstone]

Jimbeaux said:

BeeRoad said:

Jimbeaux said:

Jasandjules said:

Jimbeaux said:

It appears that human evolution has many B Roads, not just a wide straight freeway:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/ap_on_sc/us_sc...

Well, that's evolution for you.

Different adaptions which work for a time but then other factors eliminate that...

Those pics above would indicate that certain strains that should have deadended thrives on.

That's because evolution expected survival of the fittest, but we all ruined it's plans by getting together and inventing welfare where the fittest club together to keep the evolutionary dead-ends from dying out.

Thus, seeding our own demise?

I've said it before but Idiocracy

[Derek Smith]

BeeRoad said:

That's because evolution expected survival of the fittest, but we all ruined it's plans by getting together and inventing welfare where the fittest club together to keep the evolutionary dead-ends from dying out.

Herbert Spencer's quote of survival of the fittest can be a bit misleading.

I don't think you can bypass evolution any more than you can bypass gravity. The fittest will always survive but that doesn't necessarily mean the most intelligent, the prettiest or the hardest working. In fact, the probability is the the average person is the fittest.

Evolution doesn't plan. That is its essence. There is no point to it. It just happens. The next time the Siberian Traps let go or we are hit by a big rock then all the 'planning' is for nowt.

Looked at logically the ones who breed the most are the ones most likely to pass on their genes so are, via evolution, the most likely to survive. The unfit ones are those who limit themselves.

[Eric Mc]

"Fit" in evolutionary terms does not mean containing athletic, physical or mental superiority. It means that which fits best into its environment.

We do not know at this stage whether intelligence is, in fact, of any great benefit in evolutionary longevity. Look at sharks. They ain't that smart but have been around for 300 million years, However, they are certainly fit for the evironment they inhabit.

[s2art]

Eric Mc said:

"Fit" in evolutionary terms does not mean containing athletic, physical or mental superiority. It means that which fits best into its environment.

We do not know at this stage whether intelligence is, in fact, of any great benefit in evolutionary longevity. Look at sharks. They ain't that smart but have been around for 300 million years, However, they are certainly fit for the evironment they inhabit.

Hmmmm, but the point is that given sufficient intellect, humans modify the environment to suit what they want. Its a game changer.

[Asterix]

Or... humans can adapt to the environment it wants to inhabit?

Caveat - within reason - underwater is still relatively hostile to us air breathers.

[Flintstone]

s2art said:

Eric Mc said:

"Fit" in evolutionary terms does not mean containing athletic, physical or mental superiority. It means that which fits best into its environment.

We do not know at this stage whether intelligence is, in fact, of any great benefit in evolutionary longevity. Look at sharks. They ain't that smart but have been around for 300 million years, However, they are certainly fit for the evironment they inhabit.

Hmmmm, but the point is that given sufficient intellect, humans modify the environment to suit what they want. Its a game changer.

To a point. A large enough environmental event will be too much for us and a little flatworm in a pool somewhere will begin the rise to the top of the ladder.

[Jasandjules]

s2art said:

Hmmmm, but the point is that given sufficient intellect, humans modify the environment to suit what they want. Its a game changer.

I think it's more than humans produce tools/equipment to cope with the environment they are in.....

[Eric Mc]

s2art said:

Eric Mc said:

"Fit" in evolutionary terms does not mean containing athletic, physical or mental superiority. It means that which fits best into its environment.

We do not know at this stage whether intelligence is, in fact, of any great benefit in evolutionary longevity. Look at sharks. They ain't that smart but have been around for 300 million years, However, they are certainly fit for the evironment they inhabit.

Hmmmm, but the point is that given sufficient intellect, humans modify the environment to suit what they want. Its a game changer.

We don't know that for sure. So far, it certainly has made humans a very dominant species. Whether it guarantees our longevity is another matter.