Family history

[Architect]

• Modern humans evolved 200,000 years ago
• Modern humans left Africa about 50,000 years ago
• Our closest relatives, Neanderthals were still alive 24,000 years ago
• The so called 'hobbits' (Homo floresiensis - another relative) apparently survived until 12,000 years ago

African hunter-gatherers are offshoots of earliest human split

We've come a long way, Brothers and Sisters.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Keep the interesting posts coming.

 

[Architect]

Amen!

 

[intpz]

Me, you, we did nothing; the evolution progressed throughout the years.

 

[TriflinThomas]

What's the next step in human evolution?

 

[Solitaire U.]

We've come a long way, Brothers and Sisters.

Oh shit! Does this mean we're all black?

The truly amazing thing is that, evolutionarily speaking, we're the least evolved species on the planet. Thumbs + self-awareness = the hydrogen bomb. Where will it all lead?

 

[Bhagavat]

You forgot the part where sky daddy made us six thousand years ago. The aliens too... you forgot the aliens...

 

[Grove]

Thumbs + self-awareness = the hydrogen bomb. Where will it all lead?

+1:smiley_emoticons_mr

 

[Architect]

What's the next step in human evolution?

Transhumanism probably

The truly amazing thing is that, evolutionarily speaking, we're the least evolved species on the planet.

Why do you say that? Some species certainly haven't evolved much - alligators and the coelacanth, birds maybe. Humans seem to be at the pinnacle, as primates came rather late and we are at the far leaf of that tree.

 

[IdeasNotTheProblem]

What's the next step in human evolution?

Immortality? You know, like the Elves, who sailed away before the Hobbits died off. Or did they?....

 

[Solitaire U.]

Why do you say that? Some species certainly haven't evolved much - alligators and the coelacanth, birds maybe. Humans seem to be at the pinnacle, as primates came rather late and we are at the far leaf of that tree.

I wouldn't say we're even near the pinnacle. In contrast, it would appear that alligators reached their peak millions of years ago. Alligators have no problem surviving in dank muddy water, eating things that would probably kill us. All they have is their scales, teeth, and comparatively tiny brains, and they get along fine. We, on the other hand, risk death just drinking water that hasn't been purified. How long do you think you'd survive running naked through the forest?

Evolution is measured by more than mere brain mass. It would appear that humanity is a long way off from mastering its exceptional intelligence. I think we have a long way to go...

...that is, if our exceptional intelligence doesn't kill us first.

 

[Fukyo]

I want to do this sometime in the future. When I can afford it and they ship it to my county.

 

[intpz]

Why not do a DNA analysis? I think it costs 50k or so though, I'd love to do it.

 

[TriflinThomas]

All they have is their scales, teeth, and comparatively tiny brains, and they get along fine.

And probably the best immune system on the planet. (Or maybe it was crocs, I can't remember)

 

[Architect]

I wouldn't say we're even near the pinnacle. In contrast, it would appear that alligators reached their peak millions of years ago. Alligators have no problem surviving in dank muddy water, eating things that would probably kill us. All they have is their scales, teeth, and comparatively tiny brains, and they get along fine. We, on the other hand, risk death just drinking water that hasn't been purified. How long do you think you'd survive running naked through the forest?

Well that example works for the entire animal kingdom. All others have specializations which allow them to outperform us in any particular ecological niche. However change that niche and they die off. We are highly adaptable and are the first to adapt our environment to us on a large scale.

Regardless it may be a moot point. The genetic differences between people is nothing, between species very little. Arguing how evolved a creature is on that basis is probably low calorie.

 

[Teohrn]

@Architect There were other human species as well, in 2008 they discovered the remains of an unknown human species in Siberia now called Denisovans.

Why not do a DNA analysis? I think it costs 50k or so though, I'd love to do it.

It costs far less than that. It's still not cheap though. https://www.23andme.com/

I think you can find out how much Neanderthal DNA you have through that one, which is pretty interesting. Most people range from 2-4% I think.

 

[Architect]

There were other human species as well, in 2008 they discovered the remains of an unknown human species in Siberia now called Denisovans.

I know there are others but hadn't heard of that one, thanks for the link.

It costs far less than that. It's still not cheap though. https://www.23andme.com/

Ah, I've been meaning to look that company up, as I've heard about them through some reference or other.

I plan to sequence my DNA when it gets a little more comprehensive.

 

[pjoa09]

I think I am part neanderthal. There is some really weird shit when you get into this family history stuff. Races are realized and before you know it you suspect you are part neanderthal. Maybe even a Denisovan.

 

[intpz]

Does that really change anything?

 

[Teohrn]

I know there are others but hadn't heard of that one, thanks for the link.



Ah, I've been meaning to look that company up, as I've heard about them through some reference or other.

I plan to sequence my DNA when it gets a little more comprehensive.

No problem. I understand that, I have yet to take a test too.

I think I am part neanderthal. There is some really weird shit when you get into this family history stuff. Races are realized and before you know it you suspect you are part neanderthal. Maybe even a Denisovan.

You are sure to be part Neanderthal, unless your origin is exclusively African. The only question is how much. 2-4% is the average, I think. Anything below or above that value is considered abnormal. It's not necessary that modern humans mated with Neanderthals though. It could have been a species related to the Neanderthals. I believe that it's possible that the humans that migrated out of Africa mixed with this Neanderthal-like species in the Middle East. That explains why Asians also have (perhaps even more) significant percentages of Neanderthal genome, considering that Neanderthals didn't live outside of Europe and Siberia, that is quite reasonable.

Does that really change anything?

We get to know more about the history of ourselves, the human race and maybe further insight into evolution (in particular of our species). It probably has no practical value though.

Anyway. There's nothing wrong with that. Not everything needs to have a practical implementation.

In fact, the lack of practical implementation of this is a positive. Anything that is different from the consumerist sensor world - with its idolization for anything that is practical and can be mass-produced while denouncing anything that doesn't fit with those confines - is good.

Did you perhaps catch the sensoritis recently?

 

[intpz]

That was directed at @phoa09.

As for the general concept of evolution, I would be interested to know the history of our species, as it may allow me to theorize about the evolutionary future, which could be interesting.