The real Lucy. 3.2 million years old.

[_Quasimodo]

My wife and I spent a lovely afternoon at the Bowers Museum in Santa Anna, CA. The major exhibit was of the REAL fossils of "Lucy". Australopithecus afarensis, an upright walking ancestor that is 3.2 million years old.

I've been reading and seeing documentaries for many years about her. To actually see her up close was beyond amazing. For a medical illustrator, seeing the similarities to modern humans of her knee joints and pelvis, proximal femur, etc. was actually a little moving.

If anyone is in the area and has an interest, I would highly suggest you make an effort to go. The exhibit lasts until April 28th.

http://www.bowers.org/index.php/art/exhibitions_listing/current

A humorous aside. While I was there, a skeptical older lady seriously ask how they really knew her name was "Lucy" (I immediately thought of Tobin). The docent patiently explained that it was a nick name given by Donald Johanson (the paleontologist who found her) when he was examining the fossils at his base camp and the Beatles' song "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" was playing on a cassette tape.

[_ajax18]

I think it was shocking for the first Europeans to see apes and realize how similar they are to humans.

But yeah, Quasi I find evolution fascinating. I still struggle to slow it down and imagine how it might have looked at each stage. Perhaps developing nonopposable toes happened quickly since that DNA was already in our animal ancestry and just needed a few repressor genes to be turned off.

Imagine if the Neanderthals would have survived. How would we treat them now?

[_moksha]

Imagine if the Neanderthals would have survived. How would we treat them now?

Most likely as fellow conservatives.

[_krose]

Imagine if the Neanderthals would have survived. How would we treat them now?

Most likely as fellow conservatives.

OMG.

Please never leave us. You are a board treasure.

[_Brackite]

Imagine if the Neanderthals would have survived. How would we treat them now?

Most likely as fellow conservatives.

What about the Liberals that are running California now?

[_bcspace]

What about the Liberals that are running California now?

They are indeed regressive enough to qualify as Neanderthals.

[_Droopy]

What about the Liberals that are running California now?

They are indeed regressive enough to qualify as Neanderthals.

Yes, but a rather unlikeable subspecies:

[_Quasimodo]

I think it was shocking for the first Europeans to see apes and realize how similar they are to humans.

But yeah, Quasi I find evolution fascinating. I still struggle to slow it down and imagine how it might have looked at each stage. Perhaps developing nonopposable toes happened quickly since that DNA was already in our animal ancestry and just needed a few repressor genes to be turned off.

Imagine if the Neanderthals would have survived. How would we treat them now?

Hi ajax,

Apparently she had feet similar to ours:

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2011/02/lucy-had-a-spring-in-her-step.html

That was a very good question.

There is a lot of contention at the moment, but some experts believe that we all have a little Neanderthal DNA in our genes (despite the later comments on this thread)

[_Ceeboo]

Hey quasi

My wife and I spent a lovely afternoon at the Bowers Museum in Santa Anna, CA. The major exhibit was of the REAL fossils of "Lucy". Australopithecus afarensis, an upright walking ancestor that is 3.2 million years old.

Cool!

I've been reading and seeing documentaries for many years about her. To actually see her up close was beyond amazing. For a medical illustrator, seeing the similarities to modern humans of her knee joints and pelvis, proximal femur, etc. was actually a little moving.

I bet she was just as moved to see you.

The docent patiently explained that it was a nick name given by Donald Johanson (the paleontologist who found her) when he was examining the fossils at his base camp and the Beatles' song "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" was playing on a cassette tape.

That's the story of how she was named Lucy? Way cool! Thanks for sharing that. (I think he should have named her Diamond)

Peace,
Ceeboo

[_Quasimodo]

Hey quasi

My wife and I spent a lovely afternoon at the Bowers Museum in Santa Anna, CA. The major exhibit was of the REAL fossils of "Lucy". Australopithecus afarensis, an upright walking ancestor that is 3.2 million years old.

Cool!

I've been reading and seeing documentaries for many years about her. To actually see her up close was beyond amazing. For a medical illustrator, seeing the similarities to modern humans of her knee joints and pelvis, proximal femur, etc. was actually a little moving.

I bet she was just as moved to see you.

The docent patiently explained that it was a nick name given by Donald Johanson (the paleontologist who found her) when he was examining the fossils at his base camp and the Beatles' song "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" was playing on a cassette tape.

That's the story of how she was named Lucy? Way cool! Thanks for sharing that. (I think he should have named her Diamond)

Peace,
Ceeboo

Hi Ceeboo!

It was a wonderful day. Lucy displayed no emotion when we met. I guess you get a little jaded after three million years.

They even had "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" playing quietly in the display room.

Good to see you!