Cool People Are Extinct

In 1848 a strange skull was discovered on the military outpost of Gibraltar. It was undoubtedly human, but also had some of the heavy features of an ape... distinct brow ridges, and a forward projecting face. Just what was this ancient creature? And when had it lived? As more remains were discovered one thing became clear, this creature had once lived right across Europe. The remains were named Homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthal man) an ancient and primitive form of human.

There is a complete informational link at the bottom if you wish to know much more about neanderthals. The news this week is that these Neanderthals, may not have been the guys from the Geico commercial, but they still may have a the ability to "talk", thus giving us a whole new look at how they lived their lives and survived so long.


The story says that Neanderthals probably had the gift of gab, according to a study examining a key language gene in the extinct species. Until now, humans were thought to have a unique version of FOXP2, the only gene shown to play a role in language. People who are missing a copy have difficulty with speaking and language comprehension.

The version of the gene in chimpanzees — our closest living relatives — is different from that of humans in two places. But two Neanderthals who died 43,000 years ago had the same kind of FOXP2 as people alive today, researchers reported Friday in Current Biology.

So this is why, the Neanderthals are my cool "extinct" people of the week!!


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