Human Genetics & Evolution
Were Neanderthals architects?
By Philip Guelpa, 14 June 2016
Architectural features dating from over 176,000 years ago, found deep in a French cave, may have been built by Neanderthals.
New genetic data show “Back to Africa” migration in Neolithic times
By Philip Guelpa, 23 October 2015
Analysis of ancient DNA from Ethiopia provides evidence of a “reflux” of Eurasian peoples into Africa between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago, contributing significantly to the modern African genome.
Remains of a new species of early human discovered in South African cave
By Philip Guelpa, 14 September 2015
The recovery of remains of at least 15 members of an early human species provides an unprecedented mosaic of characteristics in a single population.
Scientists reveal the history and analysis of Kennewick Man
By Matthew MacEgan, 14 May 2015
A new volume published by the Smithsonian Institution serves as the most comprehensive study of the most important human skeleton ever found in North America.
Oldest known example of abstract symbolic representation discovered in Indonesia
By Philip Guelpa, 9 January 2015
Newly identified markings on a freshwater mussel shell from a site in Indonesia indicate the existence of abstract symbolic thought in human ancestors half a million years ago.
Prehistoric rock art in Indonesia dated to 40,000 years ago
By Matthew MacEgan, 7 November 2014
Archaeologists have used new dating techniques to determine the ages of cave rock art in Southeast Asia, demonstrating that such art was not limited to continental Europe.
Your Inner Fish … An engaging look at our vertebrate ancestry
By Walter Gilberti, 22 April 2014
The three-part series on the evolution of vertebrates concludes Wednesday night at 10pm EST on public television.
New fossil discovery sheds light on the evolution of the human hand
By Philip Guelpa, 26 February 2014
The discovery of a fossilized hominin metacarpal bone in Kenya demonstrates that the evolution of a key adaptation of the hand, thought to be associated with sophisticated tool production, occurred much earlier than had previously been known.
The genetic legacy of the Neanderthals
By Matthew MacEgan, 6 January 2014
Scientists have, for the first time, sequenced the entire genome of a Neanderthal hominin.
New research sheds light on a key dietary change in early human evolution
By Philip Guelpa, 14 October 2013
Multiple studies of carbon isotopes in fossil hominin teeth from southern and eastern Africa document the change from woodland to grassland diet which marked a major step in the evolution of early humans.
Genome sequencing of “living fossil” fish sheds light on the evolution of land animals
By Philip Guelpa, 30 April 2013
Decoding of the full genetic sequence of the coelacanth, a member of a group known as lobe-finned fish, has helped to explain some of the key genetic mechanisms associated with the evolution of life.
Stone tools and the evolution of modern human cognition
By Philip Guelpa, 18 December 2012
A newly reported microlithic technology from a site in South Africa helps close the apparent temporal gap between the biological evolution of modern humans and the archaeological evidence of fully modern cognitive abilities.
New fossils support a multiple-species view of early human evolution
By Philip Guelpa, 31 August 2012
Newly reported fossils from East Africa indicate multiple branches in early human evolution.
Did Neanderthals create cave art?
By Philip Guelpa, 10 July 2012
It is possible that simple representations such as disks and negative hand prints, which new dating indicates were the earliest forms of cave art, were, in fact, originated by Neanderthals.
A further discussion on human evolution
3 January 2012
Philip Guelpa responds to a letter on his article about the relationship between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens
New research may show that Neanderthals did not go extinct
By Philip Guelpa, 27 December 2011
DNA derived from the Neanderthals has been found in many human populations around the globe
New hominin fossil finds in South Africa may fill a gap in the record of human evolution
By Philip Guelpa, 23 September 2011
A newly reported fossil discovery from the Malapa, South Africa may provide greater insight into the evolution of the genus Homo from our australopithecine ancestors. The fossils consist of remains of two individuals, an adult female and juvenile male, possibly a mother and son.
New research sheds light on cognitive abilities of animals
By Frances Gaertner, 10 June 2011
Recent research has begun to investigate the cognitive abilities of animals and is helping to identify the evolutionary developments made by human beings that began to distinguish them from apes.
Fossil discovery confirms “Lucy” walked upright
By Chris Talbot, 25 February 2011
A new 3.2 million-year-old fossil discovery at Hadar, Ethiopia shows that Australopithecus afarensis, an ancestor of modern humans, had arched feet and was “committed” to walking upright.
A letter on the Denisova discovery
25 January 2011
The World Socialist Web Site received this letter in response to “The Denisova discovery: Ancient genomics shed new light on human origins,” published January 17, 2011.
The Denisova discovery: Ancient genomics shed new light on human origins
By Thomas H. Douglass, 17 January 2011
An international team of scientists made headlines last year when they used genetic evidence to show that an ancient people, once living in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia, were distant cousins of the Neanderthals and contributed to the modern human genome before their extinction.
The Artificial Ape: How humans invented themselves
By Philip Guelpa, 3 January 2011
The new book by Timothy Taylor proposes that a technological invention was critical to the biological evolution of modern humans.
“Strange Fruit” by Kenan Malik: A polemic against racism and identity politics
By Nancy Hanover, 8 May 2010
Kenan Malik has situated himself in the crosshairs of the dispute over the nature of race, arguing from the standpoint of Enlightenment rationalism and scientific objectivity.
New fossils provide insights into early human evolution
By William Moore, 20 October 2009
After 15 years of painstaking study, the journal Science has published a series of articles on the fossilized remains of Ardipithecus ramidus, which is interpreted to be an early form of hominin, the group including humans and all human ancestors back to the evolutionary split with the last common ancestor with chimpanzees.
Marx and Darwin: Two great revolutionary thinkers of the nineteenth century
Part 3
By Chris Talbot, 19 June 2009
Marx and Engels immediately recognised the significance of Darwin’s theory when On the Origin of Species appeared 150 years ago, laying out a scientific conception of the process of historical evolution of the biological world.
Marx and Darwin: Two great revolutionary thinkers of the nineteenth century
Part 2
By Chris Talbot, 18 June 2009
Marx and Engels immediately recognised the significance of Darwin’s theory when On the Origin of Species appeared 150 years ago, laying out a scientific conception of the process of historical evolution of the biological world.
Marx and Darwin: Two great revolutionary thinkers of the nineteenth century
Part 1
By Chris Talbot, 17 June 2009
Marx and Engels immediately recognised the significance of Darwin’s theory when On the Origin of Species appeared 150 years ago, laying out a scientific conception of the process of historical evolution of the biological world.
The primate fossil “Ida”: the science and the hype
By William Moore, 13 June 2009
While the recently announced discovery of “Ida,” a remarkably well-preserved early primate fossil, promises insights into the evolution of later primate forms, including humans, the way it has been presented to the public distorts both its significance and the processes of biological evolution.
Walking, running, and human evolution
New insights derived from the hobbits of Flores
By William Moore, 13 May 2009
Recent research results suggest Flores hobbits are more distinctive than previously thought, providing new insights into human evolution.
Britain: ISSE to hold meetings on Charles Darwin
9 May 2009
The International Students for Social Equality in Britain are holding a series of meetings to mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth.
“Hobbits” of Flores: Implications for the pattern of human evolution
By William Moore, 16 February 2009
Recent developments in research regarding the so-called “hobbits” of Flores, Indonesia, may lend support to the multilineal or “branching” view of human evolution.
Australian biotechnology company enforces cancer gene patent, restricting medical scanning
By Frank Gaglioti, 28 November 2008
Biotechnology firm Genetic Technologies has moved to enforce its patent over two critical genes implicated in the development of breast and ovarian cancer, shutting down genetic scanning on potential cancer victims in publicly funded facilities.
Behind the creationism controversy at Britain's Royal Society
By Paul Mitchell, 17 October 2008
The Royal Society’s education director was forced last month to resign, for at the very least seeming to advocate the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in school science classes.
Letters from our readers
7 October 2008
The following is a selection of recent letters sent to the World Socialist Web Site.
Neanderthals and modern humans--a key to understanding human evolution
Part 2
By William Moore, 4 October 2008
This is the conclusion of a two-part article. Part 1 was published October 3. The evidence bearing on the question of the Neanderthal/modern human relationship falls into several categories, each giving only a partial and biased view of reality. Two of these categories are biological--the fossil record and, more recently, DNA analysis. A third major source of data is archaeology--the artifacts and other material traces left by the two populations. In this review I will focus on the biological data, since that is the origin of the recent announcements.
Neanderthals and modern humans--a key to understanding human evolution
Part 1
By William Moore, 3 October 2008
This is the first of a two-part article. Two recent announcements of research into the relationship between Neanderthals and modern humans tend to add weight to the interpretation that the ancestors of these two human lineages parted genetic company quite a long time ago.
Science, religion and society: Richard Dawkins’s The God Delusion
By Joe Kay, 15 March 2007
In his new book, Dawkins has done us a service, if only in making more acceptable the general proposition that religion and science are at odds with each other, and that it is science that should win out.
New fossils illuminate the evolution of land vertebrates from fish
By Walter Gilberti, 1 May 2006
A major fossil discovery at a site in northern Canada has provided compelling evidence of the evolutionary transition from ancient fish to the first tetrapods—four-legged terrestrial vertebrates that include amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
New fossil discovery shows earlier human migration out of Africa
By Walter Gilberti, 29 May 2000
A multinational team of paleoanthropologists has published their findings following the unearthing last May of the oldest undisputed human fossil remains outside of Africa. The remains of two individual skulls were discovered at an archaeological site at Dmanisi, Georgia, in the former Soviet Union. These new findings have pushed back the estimated time of the first human migrations out of Africa by several hundred thousand years.
New fossil find provides important clues to man's prehistory
By Frank Gaglioti, 5 May 1999
The April 23 issue of the Science magazine announced the discovery of the fossilised remains of a new species of hominid [human ancestor], which provides important clues into the early history of human beings. The find was made by a multinational team of scientists headed by Ethiopian anthropologist Dr. Berhane Asfaw.
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