Re: So Lucy is a gorilla

On Jun 8, 7:42 pm, Glenn <GlennShel...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0606454104

"Gorilla-like anatomy on Australopithecus afarensis mandibles suggests
Au. afarensis link to robust australopiths"

"Mandibular ramus morphology on a recently discovered specimen of
Australopithecus afarensis closely matches that of gorillas. This
finding was unexpected given that chimpanzees are the closest living
relatives of humans. Because modern humans, chimpanzees, orangutans,
and many other primates share a ramal morphology that differs from
that of gorillas, the gorilla anatomy must represent a unique
condition, and its appearance in fossil hominins must represent an
independently derived morphology. This particular morphology appears
also in Australopithecus robustus. The presence of the morphology in
both the latter and Au. afarensis and its absence in modern humans
cast doubt on the role of Au. afarensis as a modern human ancestor.
The ramal anatomy of the earlier Ardipithecus ramidus is virtually
that of a chimpanzee, corroborating the proposed phylogenetic
scenario."

Must! But just how does one arrive at the harder-to-evidence
assumption that chimps are the closest living *relatives* of humans?

DNA. Next question?

.

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