R M Cullen MD MSc MFM BA DipStats DipProfEthics

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news 2014

A collection of news articles which I want to keep! http://www.nature.com/news/does-evolutionary-theory-need-a-rethink-1.16080

October 8. Does evolutionary theory need a rethink?

A comment piece in Nature where the view that the prevailing "evolution is natural selection acting on gene frequencies in populations" is opposed, and defended.

http://www.nature.com/news/does-evolutionary-theory-need-a-rethink-1.16080

July 31, Scientists able to produce laboratory mice with primitive dentition by withholding key protein from the embryo

The actual title of this article was 'Replaying evolutionary transitions from the dental fossil record'. What this research confirms is that which genes are active when, and for how long is crucial in development. Nothing new here folks.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13613.html

July 31, Richard Dawkins in meltdown

It's a sad postscript to an illustrious career in advocacy journalism, but Dawkins' propensity for hate speech and ad hominem was one thing when he held a powerful professorial position at a prestigous university. It's quite another now, when he's just another 'in my day' boor.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/30/richard-dawkins-what-on-earth-happened-to-you?commentpage=1

And in August it got worse when he said that it was immoral for a mother to give birth to a baby she knew would have Down's. Instead she should 'abort it and try again'
http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/21/richard-dawkins-immoral-not-to-abort-a-downs-syndrome-foetus

May 21, parallel evolution of quite different nervous system in comb jellyfish

So, comb jellyfish have a "nervous system" (i.e same function) quite different to that of other animals. Interesting, because when it comes to something like sensing light, the 'eye' has been the only solution.

Here's the link to the original Huffington Post post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/21/aliens-of-sea-provide-new_n_5367559.html

May 3, Transcending complacency on superintelligent machines

Progress in Artifical Intelligence is rapid. Stephen Hawking and three distinguished colleagues warn about the risks to humanity if we ever lose control of the machines.

Here's the link to the original Huffington Post post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-hawking/artificial-intelligence_b_5174265.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

Feb 12, 12,000 year old baby's DNA discovered in Montana

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2558093/The-American-Indians-DNA-baby-boy-buried-Montana-12-600-years-ago-reveals-link-Clovis-man.html

Jan 30, another study on interbreeding between "modern humans" neanderthals and denisovians

Here's the link to the original newspaper article
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/neanderthal-genes-linked-to-diseases-in-modern-day-humans-including-type-two-diabetes-9097081.html
The "step to human" is one of the real challenges faced by Darwinians. One of the many interesting points to consider is whether the genetic differences between these sub-species are greater than those between the human races (sub-species) today.

Jan 26, human tooth found in a cave in spain came from a 7,000 year old african colored, blue eyed, lactose intolerant male

Here's the link to the original newspaper article
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/revealed-first-ol-blue-eyes-is-7000-years-old-and-lived-in-a-cave-9086310.html
It's an interesting piece raising questions about the development of human sub-species (races).The American Anthropological Association denies the existence of human 'races' - see http://www.understandingrace.org/home.html

2013

Dec 4, Oldest known human DNA reveals we're 'complete mongrels'

Colorful quote from Dr Alan Cooper
Here's the link to the original newspaper article
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/turns-out-humans-are-complete-mongrels/

Oct 19, 2013, Rare skull sparks human evolution controversy

Fossils found in Dmanisi, Georgia add support to the multi-regional hypothesis
This one is a 1.8 million year old Homo erectus skull
Here's the link to the original article
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/17/world/europe/ancient-skull-human-evolution/

Sep 5, Fossil find of ancient ape in china could yield clues of human origin

this article reports finding a 6 million year old fossilized skull of a juvenile ape in SW china
Here's the link to the original article
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2013/09/05/Fossil-find-of-ancient-ape-in-China-could-yield-clues-of-human-origins/UPI-41681378415573/

2011

Sep 23, DNA confirms Aboriginal culture one of Earth's oldest

based on analysis of a lock of hair donated by an aborigine to an anthropologist over 100 years ago,the researchers conclude that Aborigines are not genetically related to Europeans and Asians. They conclude Aborginies were an earlier migration out of Africa.
Here's the link to the original Australian Geographic article
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2011/09/dna-confirms-aboriginal-culture-one-of-earths-oldest/

2010

Feb 10, full bushman and bantu genomes sequenced

this is technical (it is after all a letter to Nature)
Here's the link to the original letter
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v463/n7283/full/nature08795.html

2009

Jan 2, Richard Dawkins: human ape hybrids are possible

An opinion piece by Professor Dawkins where he expresses the view that human-ape hybrids are possible, inevitable, and 'would change everything'
This is the link to the original piece in the Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2009/jan/02/richard-dawkins-chimpanzee-hybrid

2006

July 26, evidence of pre-aboriginal australians

A Times Literary Supplement piece by Robin Hanbury-Tenison who claims to have seen examples of the Bradshaw rock art in Kimberley, North West Australia. This art is said to predate Aboriginal migration into Australia.
Here's the link to the original newspaper article
http://www.dampierrockart.net/Media/2006-07-26%20Evidence%20of%20pre-aboriginal%20Australians-Times%20Online.pdf
and to a more recent web-site
http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/australia2.html