You can sequence genes on a
computer, email them to a lab and a week later, for $100, receive a
vial of DNA.
(Ellen Jorgensen, molecular
biologist)
The approaching brick wall
Paleogenomics is a relatively new
field, whereby small bits of DNA can be extracted from small
fragments of bones, providing additional data about the history of
human evolution. The Neanderthal genome was generated from 3 small
bones and later a toe bone. But, to digress for a moment.
Three stories appeared recently
about the “human condition,” that reminded me that the last
divergent branch of the evolutionary “bush” was likely
Neanderthal. While evolution itself is slow, what is different today
is that for the first time in human history evolutionary change has
the potential to move much faster because of the extraordinary
discoveries in genetics.
This of course is hardly a reason
to be uncritically optimistic about the future of our species. These
stories, however, also raise the question about nature and nurture
and the role that both environment and genes play in “who we are.”
The first story is about a National
Rifle Association (NRA) lobbyist and the killing of an elephant in
Botswana. What this particular individual did was not illegal—but
will be in 2014. In fact, as the human population increases and we
more and more encroach on animal habitats, it is the animal that
invariably loses. Authorized “hunts” serve to reduce animal
populations and provide funding (hunting fees) to support wildlife
reserves, at least this is part of the rationale offered for the
killings.
This particular story generated a
fair amount of criticism directed at the hunter. In response, this
N.R.A. lobbyist called his critics “animal Nazis” and claimed
that he was a “hunter” and hunters kill animals. No, he's not a
hunter, just someone with a high-powered rifle with too much time on
his hands. See the video below and read NRA lobbyist shoots elephantin the face and then celebrates with champagne.
The second story is entitled, Teamof contract killers led by ex-soldier 'Rambo' busted, prosecutorssay. Finally, the last story was produced by documentary film-maker
Mariah Wilson. This is a clip from Revealing Hate.
These stories could be replicated
across the globe, yet they offer some examples, it seems to me, of a
particular sub-species of humankind, an anachronism perhaps, a
“throwback” to our past that began over a million years ago. How
in fact do we go about increasing such qualities as generosity, trust
and empathy in our species. How do we go about “repairing” a
poorly functioning cingulate cortex, that part of our brain essential
for self-awareness?
The story of the gun lobbyist
killing the elephant is largely a story about that minority of
privileged human across the globe with an overdeveloped sense of
entitlement and obtuseness ... yet, what environmental factors, if
any, create the mentality of these primitive death eaters? The other
two stories speak for themselves.
Our Neanderthal connection
What is significant about
sequencing the Neanderthal genome is that the Neanderthal died out
only some 25,000 years ago; we're not trying to find comparisons that
go back millions of years. Approximately 2.5 percent of our DNA,
outside of Africa, came from Neanderthal. Our two species most
probably met between 65,000 and 95,000 years ago. After that there
was no more interbreeding.
Scientist do not know for certain
what caused the extinction of Neanderthal but a “popular”
hypothesis is that humans out-competed them because of more advanced
language skills. We know that the FOXP2 gene, the instinct for speech
and grammar, is identical in Neanderthal, but genes in cognitive
development are different in humans and Neanderthal,quite possibly
to have solved different sets of problems, anticipating prey for
example.
Will a certain percentage of humans
go extinct or will we manage to destroy our species completely,
ideally without bringing misery to all life on the planet?
Humans and Lions Sharing Space
