About origins, creation, and evolution

Scientific discoveries: 2008-JAN to JUN

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2008-APR-03: Earliest proven appearance of humans in North America pushed back a millennium: A scientific report in the journal Science states that DNA analysis and carbon dating of ancient human feces shows that humans were in Oregon about 12,000 BCE. This is 1,000 years earlier than previous estimates that were based on bones from the Clovis culture in southwestern United States. The feces samples were found in Paisley Caves, about 350 km (miles) southeast of Eugene OR on the eastern side of the Cascade mountain range. The date when humans first arrived in the Americas is controversial. Many Native American religions state that humans have always been here. Linguistic and genetic studies have dated a migration from Siberia over a land bridge between Russia and Alaska about 15,000 years ago. This fits well with the date when glaciers would have receded to the point that people could pass them. 1

2008-JUN-28: Another missing link discovered: In 2006, a major "missing link" was found of a Tiktaalik -- a species of animal that was almost exactly halfway between ancient fish and the early tetrapods (four-legged animals with limbs in the place of fins). Now, another "missing link" fossil has been found of an animal species called Ventastega. It is about halfway between the Tiktaalik and the early tetrapods. It has a lower jaw that is tetrapod-like, but fangs that are more fish-like.2

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Maggie Fox, "Ancient feces indicates earlier American origins," Scientific America,. 2008-APR-03, at: http://www.sciam.com/
2. " 'Most primitive' known four-legged animal described," World Science, 2008-JUN-26, at: http://www.world-science.net/

Copyright © 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Originally posted: 2008-APR-04
Latest update: 2008-JUN-01
Author: B.A. Robinson

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