Texas A&M researchers with team of scientists study possible new human species
A team of scientists, including Texas A&M researchers, believe 2-million-year-old skeletal remains may be a new type of species that played a role in human evolution.
A series of six papers in the current issue of Science magazine detail the close examination of the lower jawbone, teeth and skeleton of the species Australopithecus sediba, which was discovered in 2010 by a team of scientists in South Africa and had human and ape-like characteristics.
Some researchers concluded that the new skeleton belonged to a closely related species and therefore did not represent a new species, but the scientists claim that a recent examination of the species proves conclusively that it is uniquely different from Australopithecus africanus, which was discovered before the new species, according to the recently released series of papers.
Darryl de Ruiter, Texas A&M associate anthropology professor, is the lead author or co-author in a series of six papers detailing the findings. Others connected to A&M participated in the new study, including professor Thom Dewitt, doctoral student Keely Carlson and Juliet Brophy, a recent doctoral graduate, according to a university statement.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-A-M-researchers-with-team-of-scientists-4438925.php .
Cross-posted in the Texas Group.
