Re: Races of Man (breeds of dogs)
Mari J Stoddard (stoddard@tortola.u.arizona.edu)
13 Nov 1996 23:37:55 GMT
How comparable are the human races to domestic dog breeds? Are the differences
between humans and other apes similar to the differences between dogs and
other canines?
I've read some SF in which humans are bred for specific traits -- seems
unlikely given our small litters and long maturation period -- but it would
certainly be possible over an eon or two.
In article <6KfqIdZjcsB@khms.westfalen.de>,
Kai Henningsen <kai@khms.westfalen.de> wrote:
>halikias@ix.netcom.com (Alex E. Halikias) wrote on 09.11.96 in <562srr$som@sjx-ixn9.ix.netcom.com>:
>
>> Humans and primates have nearly identical DNA structures, too. That
>
>Though a lot less equal than humans to each other.
>
>> just means our analysis of RNA structure and its implications are not
>> fully understood, and cannot yet be used in our race comparisons.
>
>Actually, it seems to mean the exact opposite.
>
>Another interesting facet is that genetic similarity *very* closely
>mirrors known evolutionary relations. This again seems to indicate that we
>are doing something right here.
>
>As to primates, some people actually think that at least one of them
>(chimpanzees?) is close enough that a crossbreed might be possible.
>However, I know of no experiments in that direction, except for some
>attempts by non-human primates which I don't quite know if I want to
>believe them.
>
>Kai
>--
>Internet: kai@khms.westfalen.de
>Bang: major_backbone!khms.westfalen.de!kai
>http://www.westfalen.de/private/khms/
--
Mari Stoddard stoddard@u.arizona.edu
Arizona Health Sciences Library, University of Arizona
520 / 626-2925 (voice) 520 626-2922 (fax)
URL: http://amber.medlib.arizona.edu/homepage.html
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