Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Sentis
Nothing can be said for sure at this point and you seem very certain and that is just not good science with the available data.

I am not 100% certain, to be sure. When I discuss this topic this is what's in the back of my head: Gosh, I'll look really silly if tomorrow they unearth strong evidence that Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon interbred.

But, yes, my personal evaluation of the evidence leaves me extremely confident that Cro-Magnons and Neanderthal did not interbreed, at least to any detectable extent. For one, there are so many lines of argument against such admixture (genetic barriers, cultural barriers, language barriers, physical barriers, etc). If you do knock down one then you run into the next and then knock down that one and run into another, etc., etc.

But, more importantly, if Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal could interbreed, and if they were at all inclined to do so, then I think the evidence would be patently clear and undeniable. For one, you should have a stark genetic imprint that distinguished European populations from more distant populations. That's what I think; you don't have to agree with me.

From a scientific standpoint, I don't think that this would even be a subject for debate if not for so many people wanting so badly for it to be true. So, they grasp at the flimsiest strands of alleged 'evidence' and combine that with a tangled web of conjecture and assumptions masquerading as fact in order to fabricate the scenario they wish to be true.

But sure, I could be wrong. If the evidence ever proves me wrong I'm sure that I'll be appropriately red-faced afterward..

154 posted on 08/13/2006 6:39:21 PM PDT by AntiGuv ("..I do things for political expediency.." - Sen. John McCain on FOX News)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 146 | View Replies ]


To: AntiGuv

I don't get it. Why couldn't Cro Magnum and Neanderthal interbreed? What would prevent them from doing so? They sure looked enough like humans.


168 posted on 08/13/2006 7:46:55 PM PDT by flaglady47
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 154 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson