Missing link between man and apes found

[alienlovechild 75]

The new species of hominid, the evolutionary branch of primates that includes humans, is to be revealed when the two-million-year-old skeleton of a child is unveiled this week.

Scientists believe the almost-complete fossilised skeleton belonged to a previously-unknown type of early human ancestor that may have been a intermediate stage as ape-men evolved into the first species of advanced humans, ** habilis.

Ida the 'missing link': fossil of man's earliest ancestor goes on display

Scientists unveil stunning fossilExperts who have seen the skeleton say it shares characteristics with ** habilis, whose emergence 2.5 million years ago is seen as a key stage in the evolution of our species.

Most fossilised hominid remains are little more than scattered fragments of bone, so the discovery of an almost-complete skeleton will allow scientists to answer key questions about what our early ancestors looked like and when they began walking upright on two legs.

The skeleton was found by Professor Lee Berger, from the University of the Witwatersrand, while exploring cave systems in the Sterkfontein region of South Africa, near Johannesburg, an area known as "the Cradle of Humanity".

The find is deemed to be so significant that Jacob Zuma, the South African president, has visited the university to view the fossils and a major media campaign with television documentaries is planned.

Professor Phillip Tobias, an eminent human anatomist and anthropologist at the university who was one of three experts to first identify ** habilis as a new species of human in 1964, described the latest discovery as "wonderful" and "exciting".

"It is not a single find, but several specimens representing several individuals. The remains now being brought to light by Dr Berger and his team are wonderful."

The new fossil skeleton was found along with a number of other partially-complete fossils, encased within breccia sedimentary rock inside a limestone cave known as Malapa cave.

The protection from the elements provided by the cave is thought to have played a large part in keeping the fossils so well preserved.

The fossil record of early humans is notoriously patchy and scientists now hope that the that the new remains will provide fresh clues about how our species evolved.

Scientists believe that a group of apelike hominids known as Australopithicus, which first emerged in Africa around 3.9 million years ago, gradually evolved into the first ** species.

Over time the Australopithicus species lost their more apelike features as they started to stand upright and their brain capacity increased.

Around 2.5 million years ago ** habilis, the first species to be described as distinctly human, began to appear, although only a handful of specimens have ever been found.

It is thought that the new fossil to be unveiled this week will be identified as a new species that fits somewhere between Australopithicus and ** habilis.

The discovery is the most important find from Sterkfontein since an almost-complete fossil of a 3.3 million year old Australopithecus, nicknamed Little Foot, was found in 1994.

Another major discovery was the well-preserved skull of a 2.15 million year old Australopithecus africanus, nicknamed Mrs Ples, in 1947.

The presence of a pelvis and complete limb bones would allow scientists to unravel the posture and method of walking used by the extinct species.

If the specimen also contains hand bones, it could provide clues about the species' dexterity and such evidence will prove crucial in determining when the ability of modern humans to handle stone tools first emerged.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/evolution/7550033/Missing-link-between-man-and-apes-found.html

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Interesting.

[Nagishkaw 510]

[Danno 1,228]

Put me down as a sceptic.

[Dan T 8]

Put me down as a sceptic.

me too but i suspect for a different reason. i am a supporter of science, but only real science. the institutions of science have been corrupted by those whose primary intent is to bring down religion. therefore its too difficult to tell what bs is being thrown out merely to support this agenda and what is real science any more. i am also a supporter of religion, though not a particular one. Religion and science are suited to address very different issues and i for one wish they would stop trying to eradicate the other. we have equal need of both but only in their pure state untainted by those who seek elimination of the other. ie global warming freaks vs global terror freaks.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I doubt any of you took any Organic Chemistry, Biology, Cell Theory, etc...in college.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Put me down as a sceptic.

You're not a skeptic. That would require you to have some basic knowledge science. You're scientifically illiterate.

[dakay ♥ 10]

[_Simpson_ 250]

me too but i suspect for a different reason. i am a supporter of science, but only real science. the institutions of science have been corrupted by those whose primary intent is to bring down religion. therefore its too difficult to tell what bs is being thrown out merely to support this agenda and what is real science any more. i am also a supporter of religion, though not a particular one. Religion and science are suited to address very different issues and i for one wish they would stop trying to eradicate the other. we have equal need of both but only in their pure state untainted by those who seek elimination of the other. ie global warming freaks vs global terror freaks.

but to suggest that the whole institution has been corrupted I cant buy. Its more about finding the truth than trying to discredit some religion.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Missing link between man and apes found

Who was it? Paul? Gary? BY? Shooter?

[Danno 1,228]

You're not a skeptic. That would require you to have some basic knowledge science. You're scientifically illiterate.

Steve you have proved yourself to be both a self appointed expert and a dupe.

Which one of use is worse?

[Dan T 8]

I doubt any of you took any Organic Chemistry, Biology, Cell Theory, etc...in college.

ive taken bio chem physics and calc

[Dan T 8]

but to suggest that the whole institution has been corrupted I cant buy. Its more about finding the truth than trying to discredit some religion.

correct on both counts but junk science has to be denounced as junk and quack scientists have a history of defending fellow quacks. darwin himself carried the agenda of destroying religion. this doesnt nullify 100% of what he worked on but its enough to make you suspicious. im open to ideas such as these and I know that the church is just as hell bent on stifling science which is why the 2 institutions need to stay out of the other's domains. theyd both have more credibility in my book if they did so. btw I am no bible thumper so dont go there with me.

do not miss understand I have not dismissed the claim being made in the OP but I am skepitical.

Edited April 5, 2010 by Dan T

[Niels Bohr 72]

Not enough.

Inorganic isn't the same thing as organic. Organic chemistry is more than learning about pi bonds, sigma bonds, nomenclature, thermodynamics. It deals with isomers, carbon chains, how enzyme works with several isomers, etc...

In Biology (ones designed for bio majors not the ones designed for non-majors) deals with Cell Theory, Genetics, Evolution, Symmetry.

Biology is designed for 1st year students. Then, it breaks down into the different branches in higher level classes to Cell Theory, Genetics, Evolution, etc...

Calculus doesn't talk about science as much as all you deal with are approximations to a curve, differential equations, Maclurean Series, Taylor Series.

ive taken bio chem physics and calc

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't understand why this article should inspire suspicion.

I'm sorry, but you can't reasonably argue a case for skepticism based on zero evidence related to the claims being made. And by evidence I do not mean some spurious, blanket idea that scientists are political hacks.