Re: Gene flow? - homo2.jpg (0/1)

Gerrit Hanenburg (G.Hanenburg@inter.nl.net)
Sun, 22 Dec 1996 18:20:54 GMT

lugmog96@student.umu.se (Ludvig Mortberg) wrote:

>Gene flow? Between homo erectus and homo sapiens and neanderthals. Did
>it ever occur to you that they all may have been seperate species. I
>mean how much gene flow do we have between lions and tigers, or
>between chimps and gorillas? None , because they cannot have fertile
>offspring!
>
>I think that if we apply standard criteria for differentiating between
>species among primates in general to hominids it could clear up things
>significantly. Take all extant species of baboons and see how they
>differ. And then take a look at a neanderthal cranium beside a cro
>magnon. What would you say?

Good question. Given that subspecies of extant mammalian species in
general do not differ anatomically enough to be readily recognizable
on the basis of the parts that are preserved in the fossil record,
what is the most reasonable conclusion with relation to Neanderthals
and amHs?

Gerrit