Re: Brain size, IQ
Gerold Firl (geroldf@sdd.hp.com)
14 Sep 1996 01:00:18 GMT
In article <516fcm$v06@portal.gmu.edu>, herwin@mason2.gmu.edu (HARRY R. ERWIN) writes:
|> Gerold Firl (geroldf@sdd.hp.com) wrote:
|> : ...............................................Even if no large-scale
|> : migrations took place, genetic diffusion would suffice to spread novel
|> : genes and gene combinations among the old world hominids.
|> I've seen some similar studies, and the results are order of magnitude
|> correct. The gene flow is low enough that local populations can maintain
|> their local characteristics, but any truly advantageous combination of
|> genes can spread relatively rapidly.
Such a conclusion seems inescapible, making the current vogue for
extreme out-of-africa-ism somewhat puzzling. The hominid lineage
seems to have operated as a single breeding population since the days
of h. erectus.
|> It does suggest that the neanderthal
|> populations of western Eurasia were isolated for at least a while, since
|> male humans seem not be be fussy about who or what they have sex with.
I've noted the latter point, and the former is obvious, since
neandertals are such a cold-weather specialization, but what is the
connection between the two? Are you referring to the apparent lack of
intermediate forms when modern humans and neandertals coexisted?
A lot of modern europeans look pretty neandertalish; it seems to me
that I've run across a few intermediate forms.
|> The variation seen about 2 MYr BP in East Africa is very interesting in
|> this context.
At 2 M BP the australopithicines were still coexisting with genus homo,
right? Is that what you had in mind?
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Disclaimer claims dat de claims claimed in dis are de claims of meself,
me, and me alone, so sue us god. I won't tell Bill & Dave if you won't.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=---- Gerold Firl @ ..hplabs!hp-sdd!geroldf
|