Posted on 06/07/2012 2:49:58 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
An international team of researchers has announced the discovery of Afrasia djijidae, a new fossil primate from Myanmar that illuminates a critical step in the evolution of early anthropoids -- the group that includes humans, apes, and monkeys. The 37-million-year-old Afrasia closely resembles another early anthropoid, Afrotarsius libycus, recently discovered at a site of similar age in the Sahara Desert of Libya.
The close similarity between Afrasia and Afrotarsius indicates that early anthropoids colonized Africa only shortly before the time when these animals lived. The colonization of Africa by early anthropoids was a pivotal step in primate and human evolution, because it set the stage for the later evolution of more advanced apes and humans there.
The scientific paper describing the discovery appears June 4 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For decades, scientists thought that anthropoid evolution was rooted in Africa. However, more recent fossil discoveries in China, Myanmar, and other Asian countries have rapidly altered scientific opinion about where this group of distant human ancestors first evolved. Afrasia is the latest in a series of fossil discoveries that are overturning the concept of Africa as the starting point for anthropoid primate evolution.
"Not only does Afrasia help seal the case that anthropoids first evolved in Asia, it also tells us when our anthropoid ancestors first made their way to Africa, where they continued to evolve into apes and humans," says Chris Beard, Carnegie Museum of Natural History paleontologist and member of the discovery team that also included researchers from Myanmar, Thailand, and France.
Beard is renowned for his extensive work on primate evolution and anthropoid origins. "Afrasia is a game-changer because for the first time it signals when our distant ancestors initially colonized Africa."
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Interesting. Thanks for posting.
Our stock apparently rose much higher than Moochelle's ire June 4th when it was determined we are much more closely related to an Asian ancestor. Cool, now we have a budget surplus and kids with a huge work ethic. What a big difference a few days make!
This research is racist.
RE: This research is racist.
Racism: The doctrine that a certain human race is superior to any or all others.
In what sense does this research meet the above definition?
Yes. It’s saying that humans came from Asia not Africa which makes Asians superior to Africans.
RE: It’s saying that humans came from Asia not Africa which makes Asians superior to Africans.
How does the conclusion follow from this observation?
They came first.
OK< they came first, but how does that lead to the conclusion that those who came first are genetically superior?
RE: Your definition said nothing about being genetically superior.
OK, let’s take the word, “genetically” away... how does being first make one SUPERIOR?
My father came after my grandfather, yet, by my observation (and our family’s observation), he was taller, stronger, faster and even smarter that his old man.
Even my grandfather concedes this.
Racism: The doctrine that a certain human race is superior to any or all others.
But the human race is superior to all others.
Racism: The doctrine that a certain human race is superior to any or all others.
But the human race is superior to all others.
Are you sure?
You’re wound up really tight aren’t you?
That looks like Chris Bosch.
RE: You’re wound up really tight aren’t you?
Just following an argument to its logical conclusion...
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