Re: why space opera won't fly (long)

Ben Crowell wrote:

DNA evidence seems to show that humans didn't evolve speech
until about 40-100 thousand years ago.

That's not true. There's no way DNA evidence could possibly show such a thing. For a start, we know virtually nothing about the genetics of language. Second, even if we knew all about the genetics of language, there's no guarantee that DNA evidence could tell us anything at all about how it evolved, even in principle. The right kind of polymorphisms would have to exist, to date from the right times, and to be datable. There's no particular reason why any of those things should be true.

The 40-100kya figure is basically pulled out of people's arses and I am not the only person who thinks it stinks.

Tim
.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: why space opera wont fly (long)
    ... Second, even if we knew all about the genetics of language, there's no guarantee that DNA evidence could tell us anything at all about how it evolved, even in principle. ... That researchers think there's something significant to be gained by looking at a single gene with glaringly obvious effects is to me powerful prima facie evidence of the truth of the proposition that "We know virtually nothing about the genetics of language." ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: why space opera wont fly (long)
    ... Second, even if we knew all about the genetics of language, there's no guarantee that DNA evidence could tell us anything at all about how it evolved, even in principle. ...
    (rec.arts.sf.composition)
  • Re: why space opera wont fly (long)
    ... Tim S wrote: ... Second, even if we knew all about the genetics of language, there's no guarantee that DNA evidence could tell us anything at all about how it evolved, even in principle. ...
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