The Fued over the Hominid Family Tree

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Lisa A. Shiel

After over 100 years of research, you’d think we would have mapped out the hominid family tree. If you listen to anthropologists talk, you might think we do—just make sure you listen to the same anthropologist every time, or you’ll get very confused. Ten anthropologists could have ten different versions of the hominid family tree [...]

Filed under: Controversies, Evolution / Human Origins, Hominids / Apes | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

The Controversy of the Hominid-Ape Split

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Lisa A. Shiel

Evolutionary theories say that humans and apes share a common ancestor. When did hominids and apes first diverge from that common ancestor, forming separate lineages? Anthropologists can’t agree. The contradictory evidence from fossils and DNA has only fanned the flames of controversy.
By analyzing modern DNA from apes and humans, scientists placed the hominid-gorilla split at [...]

Filed under: Anthropology, Controversies, Evolution / Human Origins, Hominids / Apes | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

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    • Disease Genetics: A Bankrupt Idea? November 23, 2009
      Last week DeCode Genetics, one of the top companies hunting for genetic keys to diseases, filed for bankruptcy. Despite years of studying Icelandic populations the company had failed to find any common genes for diseases such as cancer. This idea, known as common disease/common variant, has long held sway in the genetics community. Geneticists thought [...]
    • Have Scientists Understated Genetic Diversity? November 18, 2009
      We’ve all heard that humans and chimpanzees share about 98% of our DNA. If we flip that around, then we differ by only 2%. Yet the tiniest differences can make all the difference, it turns out. Most animals and birds have the gene called FOXP2, often erroneously labeled the “language gene.” Humans and chimps both [...]
    • Exploring the Eonic Effect November 17, 2009
      I recently had the chance to read World History and the Eonic Effect: Civilization, Darwinism, and Theories of Evolution by John Landon. In this book Landon proposes that cultural evolution advances in steps, much like the idea of punctuated equilibrium in biological evolution. Has human culture advanced in spurts, driven by nonrandom forces? Landon makes [. […]
    • What Do Cambrian Fossils Tell Us? November 13, 2009
      Earlier this year evolutionists celebrated the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of his book The Origin of Species, which would see five more editions in Darwin’s lifetime. Another anniversary related to evolution falls in this year too—the centenary of the discovery of the […]
    • Should We Revere Nature, or Evolution? November 11, 2009
      Which should we revere, nature or evolution? Is there a difference? Yes, in fact there is. In a recent interview with the LA Times evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins sidesteps the issue of evolution as religion to instead agree with the interviewer that he is “in awe of the process” of evolution. I too stand in awe—but [...]

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    • UFO Over Lake Superior: 56 Years Ago Today November 23, 2009
      What happened to the jet codenamed Avenger Red, which disappeared 56 years ago today? More than five decades have passed since the incident occurred, yet the mystery of Avenger Red lingers. The events that transpired on the evening of November 23, 1953, have become a part of UFO lore. Nobody knows what [...]
    • No Ghost Hunting Allowed November 11, 2009
      There will be no township-sanctioned “Ghostbusters” probe at the old Crouch Cemetery later this month. Monday night the Spring Arbor Township Board denied a Tekonsha man’s request to spend the night of Nov. 21-22 in the cemetery doing a paranormal investigation into the 1883 Crouch murders. Click here to read the rest of the story from [... […]
    • Cougars Confirmed in Upper Michigan November 4, 2009
      I’ve seen one a few hundred feet from my house here on the Keweenaw Peninsula. I’ve talked to others who’ve seen them too, in various spots around the Upper Peninsula.  Now the DNR has confirmed there are cougars in the UP, thanks to a game camera photos and some tracks. Click here to read the [...]
    • Smelling Bigfoot in Northern Michigan? November 3, 2009
      “When Ron Kostrubiec visited Wilderness State Park with his family at the end of July, he got more than he bargained for.” Were his experiences Bigfoot related? Click here to read the rest of the story and decide for yourself. Posted in Bigfoot / Sasquatch, Cryptids Tagged: smelling Bigfoot
    • The Haunted Hardware Store November 2, 2009
      Paranormal investigators have checked it out. Strange things have happened. Click here to read more about the the hardware store in Riverdale, northwest of Flint. Posted in Ghosts Tagged: haunted hardware store, Riverdale

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