Gene mutation said linked to evolution

[JoFerret]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=541&ncid=716&e=6&u=/ap/20040324/ap_on_he_me/the_human_gene
Health - AP

Gene Mutation Said Linked to Evolution
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By JOSEPH B. VERRENGIA, AP Science Writer

Igniting a scientific furor, scientists say they may have found the genetic mutation that first separated the earliest humans from their apelike ancestors.

The provocative discovery suggests that this genetic twist — toward smaller, weaker jaws — unleashed a cascade of profound biological changes. The smaller jaws would allow for dramatic brain growth necessary for tool-making, language and other hallmarks of human evolution on the plains of East Africa.

The mutation is reported in the latest issue of the journal Nature, not by anthropologists, but by a team of biologists and plastic surgeons at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.


The report provoked strong reactions throughout the hotly contested field of human origins with one scientist declaring it "counter to the fundamentals of evolution" and another pronouncing it "super."


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[treepig]

1. now that's perhaps the least profound headline ever

yeah, maybe that would have been news back in 1844 or so.

[seasat]

2. I love this point in the study.

The smaller jaws would allow for dramatic brain growth necessary for tool-making, language and other hallmarks of human evolution on the plains of East Africa.

So the bigger the mouth, the less intelligent the person. That makes sense to me and explains the existence of many Republicans. :evilgrin:

[Ediacara]

3. Sort of

If you look at the skull of a great ape, they generally have very large lower jaws, a smaller braincase and a sagital crest on the top of their braincase that anchors jaw muscles. You'll notice there is no such ridge on the top of your skull:

Gorilla gorilla


Homo sapiens


I actually don't think that a mutation for a smaller jaw was the imputus, but more like smaller jaws were selected for when human ancestors stop being herbivorous and started eating meat, and COOKING their food. Cooked non-fibrous food doesn't require the chewing strength that uncooked fribrous food does, so that may have paved the way towards larger brains, although I am not sure why it's assumed that larger brains couldn't exist WITH a sagital crest...

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. Another adaptation that surely came about the same time...

the use of tools did not require the bite pressure that apes need. war tools, prying tools and such.
bite was not as important.

[pinto]

9. and, as I understand it, increased fat in diet fed larger brain growth.

please, I don't mean Whoppers, 24/7....but a switch from vegie only diet to include animal fats is said to have contributed to brain mass.

[northernsoul]

6. insert anti - Jay Leno joke here

problem is, our boy Kerry's got a bit of lantern-jaw as well - 'course I think his brainpower speaks for itself.

[seasat]

8. I think its is kind of a relative thing.

Kerry's jaw juts out but is pretty thin. He also has a pretty big melon.



Now Shrub that's another story. Can you see how this article would apply. :evilgrin:

[NickB79]

4. Is it just me

Or does anyone else laugh when they read that a well-educated scientist in the field of human origins refers to a discover as "super"?

"I'm super, thanks for asking!"

[louis-t]

5. What evolution? There's no proooof! Left wing propaganda!

No, no, n-o-o-o-o! I'm not listening! Ahhhh-lah-lah-lah-lah....:silly: