Saturday, October 22, 2011

Species

According to a paper by Michael Hammer, et al. in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reported in The Times 6 September 2011, interbreeding between our ancestors & other ancient human species was common until about 40k years ago.

Chris Skinner, human origins scientist, Natural History Museum commented:
This paper helps to cement the view that the line dividing our ancestors from their closest relatives is blurred rather than distinct. It makes you question species definitions.

Species are categories that humans create based on underlying biology, but mammals, including humans, don’t play along. Bonobos & chimps hybridise today, & this [paper] shows that in the past we were much the same