Comments on: Another study on PCNT’s role in brain development http://anthropology.net/2008/01/08/another-study-on-pcnts-role-in-brain-development/ Beyond bones & stones Wed, 30 May 2012 15:52:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Kambiz http://anthropology.net/2008/01/08/another-study-on-pcnts-role-in-brain-development/#comment-9096 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:34:25 +0000 http://anthropology.net/2008/01/08/another-study-on-pcnts-role-in-brain-development/#comment-9096 Erik,

According to Rauch, who also published a recent paper on PCNT mutation (that I covered here), this condition does affect wrist bone development and can be attributed to the presence of deformation during skeletal development.

Kambiz

]]> By: Erik John Bertel http://anthropology.net/2008/01/08/another-study-on-pcnts-role-in-brain-development/#comment-9098 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:13:27 +0000 http://anthropology.net/2008/01/08/another-study-on-pcnts-role-in-brain-development/#comment-9098 My understanding regarding Primordial Dwarfism was that the entire body was proportionally dwarfed and that the affliction would not necessarily cause the proportional long limb bones seen in the Homo floresiensis specimens. In any case, more fossil specimens would a long way to dispelling this ongoing controversy. Of course, a live critter would be even better but I refuse to join the Sasquatch crowd.

Erik

]]> By: Erik John Bertel http://anthropology.net/2008/01/08/another-study-on-pcnts-role-in-brain-development/#comment-9080 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:11:15 +0000 http://anthropology.net/2008/01/08/another-study-on-pcnts-role-in-brain-development/#comment-9080 I just wonder if this condition can account for all of the other so-called primitive features of Homo floresiensis that are found fro example in the wrist and shoulder bones. Also the lengths of the limb bones don’t seem to match such an affliction either plus there was more than one specimen. How lucky or should I say unlucky, for us that a whole family would be found afflicted with this condition. Of course, you can use afflictions to eradicate the entire fossil record and for example attribute the grandiosity of sauropods to a glandular condition that only afflicted a few unfortunate individuals that we happened to uncover.

Hopefully we’ll know more once the original research team gets back to the caves in Flores and to the other islands. Hard to believe, but their work was halted by the Indonesian government at one point further adding fuel to this mess. You have to wonder what Jacob’s role, the originator of the microcephalic theory, was in stopping the Australian team’s work and how much of his motivation was due to professional jealousy. Unfortunately, with Dr. Jacob’s recent death we may never know the entire story regarding his true motivations.

Of course, I have a vested interest in this discovery, having written a speculative fiction novel called Flores Girl: The Children God Forgot on the recent fossil find. If you are interested, there is more on this ongoing controversy about Homo floresiensis at http://www.floresgirl.com or catch the free Flores Girl podcast at Podiobooks.com.

Erik John Bertel

]]>