Scientists say they have found the gene mutation that separated man from apelike creatures

Associated Press ^ | 3-24-04 | JOSEPH B. VERRENGIA, AP Science Writer

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Smaller jaws would have fundamentally changed the structure of the skull, they contend, by eliminating thick muscles that worked like bungee cords to anchor a huge jaw to the crown of the head. The change would have allowed the cranium to grow larger and led to the development of a bigger brain capable of tool-making and language.

[dep]

alas, it does not seem to be a universal mutation. i know of numerous humans who can be described only as apelike creatures.

[nuconvert]

pong

[tbird5]

"just super."

[blam]

Early Humans Swapped Bite For Brains

[Lokibob]

And later on in evolutionary time, a bigger brain caused an infant to be born early, due to the size of the head and the size of the birth canal. This early birth made the parents invest 15 years in child raising.

Sometime during the 15 years, lean years means the parents feed the child rock soup, which requires strong jaw muscles.

Pardon me, I babble.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Rudder]

...human evolution could literally hinge on a single mutation affecting jaw muscles, and that once those muscles were reduced, the brain suddenly could grow unfettered.

The presumption is that the brain would grow to fill up the enlarged brain case, and that before it had been constrained by the lack of room. This presumption is unwarranted by their data, especially in the light of comparative neuroanatomy which shows that as the brain enlargement alone is not the only event in human beings, it also undergoes significant changes in complexity.

I don't buy this article's presumptions at all.

[LuigiBasco]

"alas, it does not seem to be a universal mutation. i know of numerous humans who can be described only as apelike creatures."

Could they be Democraps?

[Brilliant]

a gene that led to smaller, weaker jaws and, ultimately, bigger brains

So that must be the gene that John Kerry is missing.

[river rat]

You're right...
The title should read:
Scientists say they have found the gene mutation that separated SOME men from apelike creatures.

Semper Fi

[irv]

"They have successfully nailed a genetic mutation that works to deactivate these jaw muscles," said Richard Potts, director of the Human Origins Program at the Smithsonian Institution. "But their suggestion connecting it to the brain is way too speculative."

Common sense speaks.

[PatrickHenry]

This article is the topic of an earlier thread: Gene Mutation Said Linked to Evolution.

[Maria S]

For goodness sakes! Haven't we picked on Dick Clarke enough for one day!?!

[Kirkwood]

Shockingly bad science for such a prestigious journal.