[extropy-chat] Human Evolution

[cmcmortgage at sbcglobal.net]

> The fossil record seems to indicate that there were once a number of
> hominid species, as well as many more primate species, all of which
> tended to compete with one another in one way or another, leading to
> cross predation and possibly limited local interbreeding that may have
> contributed to todays 'racial' differences between humans.
This seems to contradict the "Out of Africa" theory where all modern humans
came from the same "stock". Also, according to "Mapping Human History" by
Steve Olson, he mentions that there has never been a single human found with
MDNA from any of the archaic human species.


 >
> Humans, I think, are likely too evolved to successfully interbreed with
> other primates. If it were possible, I would say the most likely
> candidates would be those that evolved in the same locale that homo
> sapiens emerged as a distinct species.
That's my opinion as well since our species is 5-8 million years removed
from chimps. If it were possible however, it would mean that it is very
likely that a good portion of homininae could as well. Instead of getting a
clear line of descent, we would get a patchwork of hybrids across the last 3
million years. We could simply be one of those. Thus the current line of
research and attempts to interprate a clear line of descent from A.
afarensis to us would be foolish and many researchers are wasting their
time.

Also, there would be a lot of conflict between genetic and morphological
research. This is what I am finding. Species such as Kenyanthropus platyops
and Sahelanthropus tchadensis would fit into the picture better. (S.
tchadensis was more similar morphologically to humans in many ways than A.
afarensis!)

Something seems to be wrong with the current model. I have no idea exactly
what it is but that's what I amtrying to figure out.