Myanmar fossil may shed light on evolution

[dipsydoodle]

Fossils recently discovered in Myanmar could prove that the common ancestors of humans, monkeys and apes evolved from primates in Asia, rather than Africa, researchers contend in a study released Wednesday.

However, other scientists said that the finding, while significant, won't end the debate over the origin of anthropoids — the primate grouping that includes ancient species as well as modern humans.

The pieces of 38 million-year-old jawbones and teeth found near Bagan in central Myanmar in 2005 show typical characteristics of primates, said Dr. Chris Beard, a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh and a member of the team that found the fossils.

"When we found it, we knew we had a new type of primate and basically what kind of primate it was," Beard said in a telephone interview from Pittsburgh. "It turns out that jaws and teeth are very diagnostic. ... They are almost like fingerprints for fossils like this."

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7983964&page=1#.T83QOlLpXUc

In terms of walking upright it obviously doesn't follow that we're not all African : we are. The above simply refers to what continued to evolve into apes and humans.

btw I edited this completely to a better articlle on the subject.

[Scootaloo]

1. No it doesn't turn anything "on its head," much less human evolution

That apes first appeared in Asia is old news. All this does is add another example proving it.

I absolutely loathe science headlines in the media. False drama is annoying.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Even if ten times as many fossils are found, this will still be hotly debated ...

our knowledge of primate evolution is based on such a small number of fossils that every new discovery seems to call for a redrawing of the family tree. And each one leads to contrary theories from different scientists. Maybe *someday* we'll have enough evidence that the picture will start to solidify.

In large part, this is due to the fact that there were huge changes in climate patterns during the last few million years that caused primate habitat to grow and shrink repeatedly. New primate species appeared, spread across the available habitat, and were then reduced to isolated pockets when the climate turned less favorable (drier or colder). Most were wiped out; a few repopulated the habitat when it expanded during more favorable climates. So some species traveled from Africa to Eurasia, some in the reverse direction.

A single *38 million-year-old* fossil provides one tiny spotlight on a very large stage. Evolution of our nearest relatives took place so much later that it seems a little silly to consider it much of a connection.