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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 10/28/2010 : 03:08:43
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According to this, anthropoid evolution may have begun in Asia rather than Africa.
Monkey Fossils Suggest Primates Came Out of Asia, Not Africa
The discovery of four ancient, lemur-like creatures in what is now Libya suggests the human family tree’s taproot is in the Middle East, not Africa.
The conventional narrative of primate development places the origins of anthropoids — monkeys and apes, including humans — in Africa. Some paleontologists, however, think Asia is the more likely cradle for that ur-primate, or what Christopher Beard has called the “Dawn Monkey.”
Beard, a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, is among the co-authors of the paper describing the new primates, published October 28 in Nature. The four species’ fossils, representing three distinct taxonomic families, are 40 million years old. Nothing similar was known to have lived in Africa at that time.
The diversity and timing of the new anthropoids raises two scenarios. Anthropoids might simply have emerged in Africa much earlier than thought, and gone undiscovered by modern paleontologists. Or they could have crossed over from Asia, where evidence suggests that anthropoids lived 55 million years ago, flourishing and diversifying in the wide-open ecological niches of an anthropoid-free Africa.
That humans may trace their evolutionary lineage to creatures like the newly discovered anthropoids, which likely weighed between four ounces and one pound and could sit in the palm of your hand, is an intriguing possibility. But other paleontologists warn that more investigation is required.
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Hmm, a lot more investigation, I think, but it is yet another card dealt in the endless, evolutionary game.
The value of an hypothesis, even a worthless one, is not so much what it tries to suggest, but that it gets people thinking -- dangerous indeed. Whether or not this one floats or sinks, it will enhance the knowledge of primate evolution a mile or perhaps only a millimeter.
And it might get AiG's panties in an even tighter twist. 
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Edited by - filthy on 10/28/2010 12:59:20
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The Rat
SFN Regular
Canada
1370 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2010 : 08:55:33 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by filthy
And it might get AiG's panties in an even tighter twist.
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No, because it disproves evolution utterly!!! ANOTHER NAIL IN THE COFFIN OF GODLESS SECULAR COMMIES!!!  (I need a better paying job, do you think they would hire me?) |
Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.
You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II
Baculum's page: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3947338590 |
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Ebone4rock
SFN Regular
USA
894 Posts |
Posted - 10/28/2010 : 12:31:17 [Permalink]
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Nuh Uh! I didn't come from no monkey! I never saw no monkey-men!
Ridiculous I tell ya! |
Haole with heart, thats all I'll ever be. I'm not a part of the North Shore society. Stuck on the shoulder, that's where you'll find me. Digging for scraps with the kooks in line. -Offspring |
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An interesting hypothesis
