The first Neanderthal to be unearthed was found in 1856, and thought to be a deformed human. Since then, the Neanderthal was misinterpreted as a brutish figure. Due to the reconstruction of a Neanderthal's DNA, as well as finding tools used by Neanderthals, the modern image of a Neanderthal, sophisticated beings with tools and animal-skin clothing, was formed.
Europe was home to the Neanderthals for at least 100,000 years. Then, about 30,000 years ago, the Neanderthals vanished. Fossil records show that modern humans arrived in Europe 40,000 years ago. Within 10,000 years, Neanderthals were bred out. Through molecular sequencing, we have found that there is 1% to 4% percent Neanderthal DNA in all non-African humans. This indicates that humans and Neanderthals reproduced, and then the resulting hybrids reproduced. The pattern continued until Neanderthals were literally bred out. Kolbert states, “There is every reason to believe that if humans had no arrived on the scene, Neanderthals would be there still along with wild horses and the woolly rhinos”(258). Once again, Kolbert brings it to the readers attention that we have altered natural systems and we are the cause of extinction. Before it was about animals but now human like species were even removed from the Earth because of human activity.
An interesting point that was brought up in this chapter was the little difference in our genetic sequence that makes us different from the Neanderthals. Svante Paabo, head of the department of evolutionary genetics, explains, “If we one day will know that some freak mutation made the human insanity exploration thing possible, it will be amazing to think that iwas this little chromosome that made all this happen…”(251). When you think of the different species that roam our Earth they all have one thing in common and that’s the fight of survival. With the fight of survival, this causes them to be very cautious and they don’t let their curiosity get the best of them because it can be fatal. However, human are the opposite. We don’t have a limit. Right now we’re trying to colonize mars. Personally, I believe that there is no other species that existed or in the future might be created that has this drive like we do. The “madness” that drives us is scary, but it’s also amazing and it’s why we have made it so far as a society.
An interesting point that was brought up in this chapter was the little difference in our genetic sequence that makes us different from the Neanderthals. Svante Paabo, head of the department of evolutionary genetics, explains, “If we one day will know that some freak mutation made the human insanity exploration thing possible, it will be amazing to think that iwas this little chromosome that made all this happen…”(251). When you think of the different species that roam our Earth they all have one thing in common and that’s the fight of survival. With the fight of survival, this causes them to be very cautious and they don’t let their curiosity get the best of them because it can be fatal. However, human are the opposite. We don’t have a limit. Right now we’re trying to colonize mars. Personally, I believe that there is no other species that existed or in the future might be created that has this drive like we do. The “madness” that drives us is scary, but it’s also amazing and it’s why we have made it so far as a society.
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