nmoira Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Read about it here (Science Daily) and here (National Geographic). Excerpt from Science Daily: In a special issue of Science , an international team of scientists has for the first time thoroughly described Ardipithecus ramidus , a hominid species that lived 4.4 million years ago in what is now Ethiopia. This research, in the form of 11 detailed papers and more general summaries, will appear in the journal's 2 October 2009 issue. Science is published by AAAS, the nonprofit science society. This package of research offers the first comprehensive, peer-reviewed description of the Ardipithecus fossils, which include a partial skeleton of a female, nicknamed "Ardi." The last common ancestor shared by humans and chimpanzees is thought to have lived six or more million years ago. Though Ardipithecus is not itself this last common ancestor, it likely shared many of this ancestor's characteristics. For comparison, Ardipithecus is more than a million years older than the "Lucy" female partial skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis . Until the discovery of the new Ardipithecus remains, the fossil record contained scant evidence of other hominids older than Australopithecus . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowcat Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Very cool! Thanks for posting this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trixie Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I was just reading about this. Thanks for the printable links! Science-loving ds will be thrilled to read those. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cammie Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Amazing! Wonder what they will find next?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Good stuff -- thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Fascinating! Thanks for posting it! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Thanks for posting this. I am glad to be informed of new discoveries. The last common ancestor shared by humans and chimpanzees is thought to have lived six or more million years ago. Though Ardipithecus is not itself this last common ancestor, it likely shared many of this ancestor's characteristics. For comparison, Ardipithecus is more than a million years older than the "Lucy" I have no idea what this means. :confused: Does it mean that there should be an older one that they are still looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Since we're talking missing links, check out this new dinosaur/bird transitional fossil: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/sep/24/dinosaur-fossil-discovery-china The picture is amazing to me because I couldn't really visualize 4 wings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jplain Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Though Ardipithecus is not itself this last common ancestor... I have no idea what this means. :confused: Does it mean that there should be an older one that they are still looking for?Yes. Ardi is only 4.4 million years old. Based on statistical analysis of the genetic differences between chimps and humans, the most ancient shared ancestor of humans and chimps is estimated to have lived 6-7 million years ago. So while Ardi may very well be our ancestor, she was not an ancestor of chimpanzees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Since we're talking missing links, check out this new dinosaur/bird transitional fossil: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/sep/24/dinosaur-fossil-discovery-china The picture is amazing to me because I couldn't really visualize 4 wings. The finds date back to between 151m and 164m years ago, which suggest they are older than archaeopteryx, previously thought to be the oldest undisputed bird. Cool! I still don't see 4 wings though :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 Yes. Ardi is only 4.4 million years old. Based on statistical analysis of the genetic differences between chimps and humans, the most ancient shared ancestor of humans and chimps is estimated to have lived 6-7 million years ago. So while Ardi may very well be our ancestor, she was not an ancestor of chimpanzees. I see. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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