I am by the sea and I have a picture

[sovay]

The news which made my day when I woke up and saw it in the paper: some of us have Neanderthal DNA. The original published papers are here, currently free to all visitors.

My mother is delighted. "Of course," she said when I showed her the article. "And they were gentle and ate wonderful grubs and were telepathic." The first book she ever read about the Neanderthals was William Golding's The Inheritors (1955).

I think it's pretty awesome, too.

Comments

[selfavowedgeek.livejournal.com]

Of all the news I've read this week, that article's the one I've returned to the most and just pored over. Fascinating stuff.

Also might explain a few things about some of my wife's folk. ;)

*zing*

[sovay]

Of all the news I've read this week, that article's the one I've returned to the most and just pored over. Fascinating stuff.

I like that Science is making the research available; usually the full articles are locked except to subscribers.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Saw that! But not the wonderful double portrait.

Nine

[sovay]

But not the wonderful double portrait.

Svante Pääbo and ancestor.

[zdenka]

That is indeed awesome. And I love how the scientist is grinning happily at the skull and the skull is grinning back.

[sovay]

And I love how the scientist is grinning happily at the skull and the skull is grinning back.

Yes! I want to write a poem for it, except I fear it would suck.

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

I was knocked out by the news too, stumbled upon like a dream in the wee hours of this morning. Great pic -- the happiest of Hamlets and Yoricks, each with his strand of Caliban.

[sovay]

Great pic -- the happiest of Hamlets and Yoricks, each with his strand of Caliban.

Okay, you write the poem.

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

And I love what your mom said! A thousand blessings upon her.

[timesygn.livejournal.com]

... some of us have Neanderthal DNA

This should come as no surprise. For I can assure you, as a security officer, that Neanderthals still walk among us.

[sovay]

For I can assure you, as a security officer, that Neanderthals still walk among us.

I bet you're insulting Neanderthals!

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the links! I'm glad they've left the papers unlocked.

I think this is brilliant, although I'm not entirely surprised. A few years back a lot of people were saying there probably wasn't any interbreeding, that the DNA didn't seem to indicate it; I kept thinking that there seemed to be some evidence from the physical anthropology side of things, and that there was a good chance that further and deeper DNA work would end up showing the physical anthropologists had a point.

I like your mother's comment. I've never read that book--I expect I should remedy this.

[sovay]

I like your mother's comment. I've never read that book--I expect I should remedy this.

I should warn you that I haven't read The Inheritors since ninth grade, when my mother gave it to me as an antidote for being assigned The Lord of the Flies, but I remember it fondly. I hope it's still in print.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

An antidote for The Lord of the Flies sounds a good thing, although I have to admit that, in stereotypical boy-like fashion, I didn't much mind reading it. (Looking back, I'm surprised I didn't write fanfic where Piggy was a weapons geek and he and his friends used crossbows and bamboo rockets to maintain order on the island, but I was presumably too busy writing Star Trek parodies.)

I hope it's still in print.

I hope it is, also. Will put it on my list to pick up--I'll take your fond memories as proof it's worth the reading.

Science!

[whiskeychick.livejournal.com]

What a great pic and article. I want to run around the neighborhood screaming "Science!" ala Thomas Dolby. Stuff like this just kicks ass so hard.

[sovay]

I want to run around the neighborhood screaming "Science!" ala Thomas Dolby.

I think that is an entirely appropriate reaction. Also, I want photographs.

Stuff like this just kicks ass so hard.

Amen.

[lesser-celery.livejournal.com]

The news which made my day when I woke up and saw it in the paper: some of us have Neanderthal DNA.

Anke's first reaction upon reading the news was, "That's us!" And maybe that explains why I'm a hockey fan. Oops, wrong stereotype.

[sovay]

And maybe that explains why I'm a hockey fan. Oops, wrong stereotype.

Just the red hair.

[negothick.livejournal.com]

Hm m m.. .red hair, telepathic--guess they colonized Darkover, too.