Study says near extinction threatened people 70,00 years ago

[slowhand]

WASHINGTON - Human beings may have had a brush with extinction 70,000 years ago, an extensive genetic study suggests. The human population at that time was reduced to small isolated groups in Africa, apparently because of drought, according to an analysis released Thursday.


The report notes that a separate study by researchers at Stanford University estimated the number of early humans may have shrunk as low as 2,000 before numbers began to expand again in the early Stone Age.

"This study illustrates the extraordinary power of genetics to reveal insights into some of the key events in our species' history," Spencer Wells, National Geographic Society explorer in residence, said in a statement. "Tiny bands of early humans, forced apart by harsh environmental conditions, coming back from the brink to reunite and populate the world. Truly an epic drama, written in our DNA."



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_on_sc/close_call;_ylt=AnUuNN8WKUWGgHtPbcqd.Kys0NUE

 

[gunslingingbird]

Well, if we've survived impending doom once, we can do it again.:tongue:

 

[negator]

analyzed from a different angle

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7358868.stm

cataclysms such as this are where adaptation and mutation really shine.
adaptability (or the big brain) is the natural weapon of the human animal. big teeth and claws are great, big brain trumps all.

 

[Friday on my mind]

analyzed from a different angle

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7358868.stm

cataclysms such as this are where adaptation and mutation really shine.
adaptability (or the big brain) is the natural weapon of the human animal. big teeth and claws are great, big brain trumps all.

I'm not so sure our "big brains" will not be the cause of our ultimate demise, but then again nothing lasts forever.

 

[octavian17360]

just to think...........we almost escaped

 

[minidog]

Friday[/URL][/B] on my mi, post: 2164027, member: 44516"]I'm not so sure our "big brains" will not be the cause of our ultimate demise, but then again nothing lasts forever.

negators contact has.................

 

[senob44]

Interesting read, slowhand.

If I was alive back then, I would have been singing:

:sing: "Let 'em all go to hell, except cave 76!"

 

[calpoon]

well "near extinction" might just be a sensationalist term. It doesn't say what the projected population was before this crash.

and "harsh environmental conditions" don't mean unlivable. You should read the book "collapse" that talks about the decline of past societies. a sustained drought for say even a couple years would be enough to decimate a population whose living was narrowly based on typical seasonal conditions. It's not really comparable to the potential life-threatening feats we face today, like nuclear annihilation. Also look at the same example compared to us and global climate change. people survived back then because everyone in the world wasn't dependent on agriculture as their sole source of supply. also think about how it would effect us if any given area was unable to import resources from anywhere else and only had to rely on what they had locally. that doesn't put us in a very good position today. sure humanity would survive. Los Angelas.. not so much. which might not really be too bad of a thing.

 

[bombardier52]

well "near extinction" might just be a sensationalist term. It doesn't say what the projected population was before this crash.

and "harsh environmental conditions" don't mean unlivable. You should read the book "collapse" that talks about the decline of past societies. a sustained drought for say even a couple years would be enough to decimate a population whose living was narrowly based on typical seasonal conditions. It's not really comparable to the potential life-threatening feats we face today, like nuclear annihilation. Also look at the same example compared to us and global climate change. people survived back then because everyone in the world wasn't dependent on agriculture as their sole source of supply. also think about how it would effect us if any given area was unable to import resources from anywhere else and only had to rely on what they had locally. that doesn't put us in a very good position today. sure humanity would survive. Los Angelas.. not so much. which might not really be too bad of a thing.

Collapse is a fascinating book. Its never the drought that gets them. Its cutting down all their trees!

 

[D-rock]

At least at one time that probably means we came from people that were tough and resourceful. (With probably a little bit of luck also.) It makes me think what will happen now that a lot of people come from lazy, apathetic, and intellectually barren people.

 

[YMIHERE]

Previous studies using mitochondrial DNA — which is passed down through mothers — have traced modern humans to a single "mitochondrial Eve," who lived in Africa about 200,000 years ago.

This mitochondrial Eve must have been very promiscuous.

 

[member2013]

It makes me think what will happen now that a lot of people come from lazy, apathetic, and intellectually barren people.

Let me guess....you'd survive and a lot of 'lazy, apathetic, and intellectually barren' people - wouldn't?

 

[senob44]

This mitochondrial Eve must have been very promiscuous.

In my experience at least, women named Eve usually are. :love-smi::nannerf1::nannerf2::blowjob: :eek: