Missing link found by Norwegian scientist

[TheReasoner]

Fossil find provides 'missing link' in human evolution - Times Online

A missing link in human evolution may have been filled by a remarkable fossil, which could be the common ancestor of all apes and monkeys, including our species.

Darwinius masillae, a small monkey-like creature that lived 47 million years ago, illuminates a critical chapter in the human story when the primate family tree split into two branches, one of which ultimately led to us.

The fossil could even mark the point at which the evolutionary lineage that gave rise to humans, apes and monkeys diverged from the one that produced more distant primate cousins such as lemurs, lorises and bushbabies.

Its anatomical features suggest it lies close to the origin of the human branch and that the creature, or something rather like it, could be an ancient ancestor of humans and their closest animal relatives.

-znip-

“This fossil is so complete. Everything’s there. It’s unheard of in the primate record at all. You have to get to human burial to see something that’s this complete.”

-znip-

The PR operation has been criticised by some scientists, who believe it is wrong for a discovery to receive such heavy publicity before it has been published so that other researchers can evaluate it.

Dr Hurum defended the campaign. “Any pop band is doing the same thing, any athlete is doing the same,” he told the New York Times. “We have to start thinking the same way in science.”

True, I think.

I bet we'll have a lot of creationists go ballistic about it though. *sigh*

 

[AV1611VET]

A missing link in human evolution may have been filled by a remarkable fossil, which could be the common ancestor of all apes and monkeys, including our species.

Cool ---

Another missing link no longer missing --- and only what --- 5 quadrillion left to go?

 

[TheReasoner]

Cool ---

Another missing link no longer missing --- and only what --- 5 quadrillion left to go?

They are there. No question about that. Evolution is observed, so there's no question anymore. Our history is long though, and our planet large. It's a longshot for a member of any one species to be perfectly preserved, and then found before the fossil or specimen is destroyed. Some missing links may never be found because of that. But that does not mean it never existed. Can we say that Nosferatu was never filmed because the original copies and films were lost? I don't think so.

 

[Ectezus]

Cool ---

Another missing link no longer missing --- and only what --- 5 quadrillion left to go?

Every living organism ever lived is technically a missing link or transitional fossil if you like.
Humans now also differ slightly from humans 100 years ago but it happens slow enough for no generation to notice it themselves.

Think of it as going from 1.0 to 2.0. Finding 1.5 would be the first major clue but then the next 'missing link' is finding 1.75 and 1.25. After that 1.125 and 1.875. And so forth...

As for the article:
"The PR operation has been criticised by some scientists, who believe it is wrong for a discovery to receive such heavy publicity before it has been published so that other researchers can evaluate it."

I agree. I think it's bad to rush knowledge before it has been peer reviewed.

- Ectezus

 

[Honkytnkmn]

I'm just glad we finally resolved this debate. I mean there is no question now.

 

[TheReasoner]

Every living organism ever lived is technically a missing link or transitional fossil if you like.
Humans now also differ slightly from humans 100 years ago but it happens slow enough for no generation to notice it themselves.

Think of it as going from 1.0 to 2.0. Finding 1.5 would be the first major clue but then the next 'missing link' is finding 1.75 and 1.25. After that 1.125 and 1.875. And so forth...

As for the article:
"The PR operation has been criticised by some scientists, who believe it is wrong for a discovery to receive such heavy publicity before it has been published so that other researchers can evaluate it."

I agree. I think it's bad to rush knowledge before it has been peer reviewed.

- Ectezus

True, ectezus. But we need to spark the public's interest in science. Look at creationism, look at the apathy in the general population. Few care about astronomy, biology, physics or any other field. If we remain as cool and collected as ever before, who will gain an interest? We must be enthusiastic, and make science attractive again.

 

[AV1611VET]

They are there.

No, they aren't --- you don't even have them documented.

Why do you think they're called "missing" links?

If you think they are, then what is name of the species that is --- oh --- 1.876 quadrillion back --- and what is the name of the one just before it, and the second one just after it?

 

[Gawron]

And here I thought this was a thread about Barney Frank......

 

[AV1611VET]

Think of it as going from 1.0 to 2.0. Finding 1.5 would be the first major clue but then the next 'missing link' is finding 1.75 and 1.25. After that 1.125 and 1.875. And so forth...

That is way oversimplifying it.

More like having to go from .0000000001 to 100,000.0, and having only about 10 species documented so far.

And I can't even think of ten.

• Homo sapien
• Homo erectus
• Homo [something]

Evidently FaithGuardian knows though --- he said they're all there.

 

[Honkytnkmn]

No, they aren't --- you don't even have them documented.

Why do you think they're called "missing" links?

If you think they are, then what is name of the species that is --- oh --- 1.876 quadrillion back --- and what is the name of the one just before it, and the second one just after it?

I'm not sure how you can refute this kind of overwhelming evidence, lol I mean the quadrillion fossils that are missing is minor detail.

 

[TheReasoner]

No, they aren't --- you don't even have them documented.

Why do you think they're called "missing" links?

If you think they are, then what is name of the species that is --- oh --- 1.876 quadrillion back --- and what is the name of the one just before it, and the second one just after it?

This is, as has been pointed out, not a matter of clean jumps from one to the next. It's a fluid change. Let's talk length measurement: Take a piece of your wall and measure it. Now you know the length of it. Go halfway down the measuring stick, and find that value. Half it again. They are all different lengths, and you can get an infinite number of measurements for an infinite number of points on the wall. If you measure one meter and two meters, that does not mean there are two beams running across the room, one a one meter height and one at two meters. Logically there's a wall all the way down. It's impossible to document every single species that has existed in the human line, because if you want to measure accurately, you need one member of each generation to do that. And that's.... Extremely hard. To put it mildly. But that doesn't mean they are not there.

 

[Honkytnkmn]

That is way oversimplifying it.

More like having to go from .0000000001 to 100,000.0, and having only about 10 species documented so far.

And I can't even think of ten.

• Homo sapien
• Homo erectus
• Homo [something]

Evidently FaithGuardian knows though --- he said they're all there.

Actually its even worst than that, That is assuming that it took a straight coarse from .0000000001 to 100,000.0. What of all the failed specimens that didn't make it. What of the .0000000000001 to 1,000,000,000 it took to make correct ankle.

 

[TheReasoner]

That is way oversimplifying it.

More like having to go from .0000000001 to 100,000.0, and having only about 10 species documented so far.

And I can't even think of ten.

• Homo sapien
• Homo erectus
• Homo [something]

Evidently FaithGuardian knows though --- he said they're all there.

I thank thee for thy mockery, oh wise and omniscient one.

 

[AV1611VET]

I'm not sure how you can refute this kind of overwhelming evidence, lol I mean the quadrillion fossils that are missing is minor detail.

Ya --- good point.

As long as we have about 10 or so, who cares about the other several quadrillion?

 

[Ectezus]

That is way oversimplifying it.

Ah ok, I'm waiting for you way over-exaggerating it.

More like having to go from .0000000001 to 100,000.0, and having only about 10 species documented so far.

Ah there it is.
Wouldn't expect otherwise from you.

And I can't even think of ten.

• Homo sapien
• Homo erectus
• Homo [something]

Ah yes, because you not knowing anything about it proves science wrong. Don't blame your education or anything, that would be stupid.

- Ectezus

 

[AV1611VET]

But that doesn't mean they are not there.

I'll wait until they're found then, before I even begin to believe evolution has a leg to stand on.

I'm sure you won't fault me for that.

 

[TheReasoner]

I'll wait until they're found then, before I even begin to believe evolution has a leg to stand on.

I'm sure you won't fault me for that.

You're entitled to your opinion. Even if that is that the world is flat. It's a free world, after all.

 

[AV1611VET]

I thank thee for thy mockery, oh wise and omniscient one.

Hey --- you're the one who blurted out we have them all.

I don't buy it --- and neither does Ectezus --- who only missed by fifteen decimal places.

 

[TheReasoner]

Hey --- you're the one who blurted out we have them all.

I don't buy it --- and neither does Ectezus --- who only missed by fifteen decimal places.

No, I didn't. I said "they are all there", not "we have them all". While English is not my mother tongue, I do believe there is a difference between the two.

 

[AV1611VET]

Ah yes, because you not knowing anything about it proves science wrong. Don't blame your education or anything, that would be stupid.

I'm sure you can name the other seven?