CARTA: The Genetics of Humanness: The Neanderthal and Denisovan Genomes

[@HelenRainier]

This is the first documentary I've watched about DNA and what makes us alike, and what makes us different. It is so fascinating -- thanks for making it easily relatable.

[@joecraig6701]

Within the first minute , I thought to myself ,"How could mankind's ancestors not ruin the planet in all of that time , but we did in 500 years or less

[@norbertomoran4575]

Because they did. And now we’re doing it again.

[@dvrmte]

They did. Many American Indians used slash and burn agriculture. They also burned off huge tracts of land to create artificial prairies and clearings. When Europeans arrived in the Southeastern states there wasn't vast forests. They called those huge almost treeless prairies "cowpens" and they grazed their cattle on them. Anyway, tons of sediment washed off into the river systems leading to the destruction of many shellfish. I thought the 3-4 feet of sediment in the creek bottoms came from poor farming practices over the last hundred years or so but my cousin, who is a professor of history, specializing in Southeastern Indian history, told me different. He said they found that most of the sediment was put there thousands of years ago by Indian activities. All humans have manipulated the environment to suit their needs. Ancient people weren't great stewards of the land, they just screwed it up at a slower pace.

[@fadillangston9797]

Because innovation is an exponential process, also have you ever heard of the destruction of Easter Island, New Zealand or all the mammoth hunting cultures?

[@userwl2850]

more of this please. 27 mins is not enough but thanks anyway.

[@prairiestategenetixseeds9726]

Very well done. Not saying I agree with everything but well done and very informative

[@GuidetteExpert]

There was found a modern human 300.000 years ago in Morrocco, so your wrong.

[@Foundingmother1]

Very interesting but it is difficult to absorb what he’s saying, talks to fast and he rambles. I keep wishing he would take a breath.

[@briemills9209]

I thought he was VERY clear and without the plodding cadence and a thousand 'uhs' and 'ums'. He is one of the better speakers on this subject.

[@lamaddussa]

if humans originated in africa, and humans and neanderthals shared common ancestry, then how was it that the humans who migrated northward from africa encountered neanderthals already living in the north? did the neanderthals also originate in africa but migrated northward prior to the migration of the humans who ultimately migrated northward?

[@jonnynice8366]

yes

[@JoeyNiklas]

Some scientist theorize that H. erectus migrated to Europe and evolved into Neanderthals, and Homo Sapiens (us) evolved from H. erectus in Africa.

[@nicholaschen9545]

The Sahara Pump Theory says that the alternating periods between desert and lush climates in the Sahara caused hominids to push out of Africa in periodic spurts.

[@freddykrueger5503]

Nicholas Chen how come Neanderthals and Denisovans were so different genetically? Their geographic position supposedly over-lapped and their time line as well. Were they not able to breed due to being a different species.

[@B13Ce4a]

mad dusa A earlier hominid ancestor of Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals migrated north. Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens evolved separately.

[@mikecranapple8878]

It's difficult to listen to this guy...He seems to never finish a sentence. He just drones on and on, not taking a breath.

[@fredriks5090]

@BLUE DOG He's (mike here) been acclimated to the pauses imposed by all the ah's, umm's, and hmm's. This guy sounds what an actual speech should, because he has done his research prior to the stage and need not think on the go to defend his own word.

[@lijohnyoutube101]

I think he’s very easy to follow. Its not supposed to be a 500 feet level review its a detailed data sharing presentation. I suggest watching more scientific presentations to learn the cadence.

[@thecreenationofterraaustra6878]

I refuse to accept that we came from one single place on earth. It does not make any sense. What make more sense is the idea that we evolved in multiple places at the same time. The only reason we stick with the idea that all life came from one place is only to please religeous idiots that think that everyone came from 2 people in one place

[@gusgrizzel8397]

I agree. Just like species of animals. Species explains the wide variety of humans and genetic diversity. Just like all of the early human "ancestors" that died off. If man truly evolved from a prosimian ancestor, there should be tons of fossils. But maybe not. Just like man had to survive in Europe with the 4 seasons, and being able to gain weight became a survival trait.

[@ytgadfly]

@@gusgrizzel8397 all the living people on this planet have less genetic diversity than chimps do. actually this is more evidence of a single origin as if there were multiple origins there should be much more genetic diversity.

[@gusgrizzel8397]

@@ytgadfly The more evolved, the less genetic diversity.

[@teresafernandez9849]

I agree, and so do some scientists! ALL continents had primates and chimpanzees and apes! All continents had the environment for evolution, some even better than Africa! There is little to NO Denisovan DNA in Africa. However, Archiologists and anthropology, r so dogmatic, they act like we r still primates and can't use logic and ask logical questions, they also have an ego problem, no other species could be as smart or smarter than us, I think they were VERY smart! Now some archiologists r saying that the Denisovan went BACK to Africa to learn something, why would they, when the finger points to Asia as the cradle of civilization! They come up with rediculous theory every time something new is found. Some say it will be costly to change everything. Well some things should be corrected at ALL cost, especially the truth of who we are!

[@ChesterMurray]

The probability for that would require an infinite time period, just about 0%

[@jacquelinepaddock7535]

Gene expression is the thing!

[@strongangel]

All well and good on the physical side, however it is as well to realise the life forces .. conscious and subconscious are from the same source and evolution of the body is an aspect of the need of the mind.

[@reppepper]

Orangutan not orangutang.

[@Less1leg2]

If Neanderthals were around 350,000 plus years. We Homo Sapiens have been around not very long in comparison. Many scientists have found Neanderthal genes mixed into Homo Sapiens. But Neanderthals have passed away. To me, that tells that the Homo Sapien brought along a SOMETHING dangerous to the existence of Neanderthals. Neanderthals died off so fast. You can't say Neanderthals were devoid of talent. Heck, they survived ages longer than the upstart Homo Sapien people. Neanderthals lived through prolonged Ice Ages living off the land. Pretty much in isolation situations. So, was this "isolation" the downfall of Neanderthals? Here comes from the south, Homo Sapiens, carrying a little extra that a Neanderthal could not fight against. All you needed was the Flu, or some other illness. Bingo baby, the Spanish Flu would have been enough to wipe out isolated pockets of Neanderthals.

[@haroppert9562]

Totally agree

[@lottesrensen8004]

Noone know there are theories of them being to inbreed, that they matet with us and were absorbed into a larger population or that they due to smaller frontlope were incapable to adjust to climachanges and change in fauna. But who knows.....

[@Andrea-br4gv]

"Humans have always mixed"! How are these ancient peoples findings helping humans today? Are not ancient des eases rare? Are not modern illnesses due to modern diets? Perhaps modern humans should change their eating habits,and they should eat like their ancestors did! How many ancient humans have been found weighing 300 pounds?

[@heromaniacz]

Actually, I think I heard in another documentary that they found evidence of certain modern diseases in early hominid cultures, which could help us if we can learn why they are still around and other things.

[@ytgadfly]

and they would likely be dead by 40 , learn some actual science about human longevity

[@gusgrizzel8397]

We didn't come from apes. The 2001 Space Odyssey story is more believable than "we came from apes". There had to be some aberration, something way off from what apes are, to evolve like us.

[@heromaniacz]

Saying humans "came from apes" is like saying tabby cats came from tigers. It's a shared ancient ancestor, not a direct descent. If you found someone who had a relative in common with you back in the year 1256, would you expect to look or act or even think like them?

[@heromaniacz]

@Daniel Appleton That's the best part of evolution theory! There has to be more than one. Trying different combinations of everything to see what makes a working combination means exactly that.

[@ytgadfly]

we are apes!

[@mutualisme299]

So "giants" are considered a myth. However the tallest skeleton is 3,50 meters. Also the Denisovan reconstruction shows to have bigger limps heads teeth etc. Couldn't the so called "giants" in ancient texts just be a Denisovan? Oldest Denisovan found in Spain. www.nature.com/articles/nature12788

[@fredriks5090]

All the "megafauna" that went extinct aftert he last glaciation still have smaller hot-climate versions today - and it makes total sense for humans to be part of this in some way. Neanderthals for examle had larger heads, and more compact bodies - even if some of them were a bit shorter than us. If people were to hunt megafauna in the eurasian cold steppe - size and mass is beneficial in many instances.