Washington University in St Louis ">Tr "Itr Startling Neandertal Find New Fossil Dating Challenges Earlier Theories
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Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Washington University Record Washington University Publications 10-28-1999 Washington University Record, October 28, 1999 Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record Recommended Citation "Washington University Record, October 28, 1999" (1999). Washington University Record. Book 844. http://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/record/844 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington University Publications at Digital Commons@Becker. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Record by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Becker. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Inside: Law Professor Bruce La Pierre Medical News: Pathway might provide Washington People: Daniel Williams, argues case before Supreme Court target for treating chronic pain M.D., helps childless couples conceive 8 Oct. 28,1999 Volume 24 No. 10 Washington University in St Louis ">tr "itr Startling Neandertal find New fossil dating challenges earlier theories BY ANN NICHOLSON surmised that early modern June 1999, humans from the Near East moved strongly Erik Trinkaus, Ph.D., profes- first into central Europe and then supports the sor of anthropology in Arts into western Europe, pushing conclusion & Sciences, and an interna- Neandertals into the Iberian that tional team of scientists have Peninsula at the southwest corner Neandertals documented that Neandertals of the continent, where the and early roamed central Europe as recently Neandertals died off about 30,000 modern as 28,000 years ago — the latest years ago. humans both date ever recorded for Neandertal The new radiocarbon dates not could and did I. fossils worldwide. only dispute this pattern of mate when Trinkaus New data The team's findings, published Neandertal migration and extinc- they came about Neandertals in the Oct. 26 issue of the tion, but also question a study in into contact. prestigious journal "Proceedings which scientists compared the "Not only do we have the of the National Academy of DNA of a Neandertal with the skeleton of a child in Portugal Sciences" (PNAS), could force DNA of contemporary humans. showing characteristics of other scientists to rethink theories Published two years ago, the study common descent, but now we of Neandertal extinction, concluded that Neandertals and have evidence of the two groups intelligence and contributions to early modern humans probably coinciding in central Europe for the human gene pool. didn't interbreed. several millennia, allowing plenty The research includes new Conversely, last year's discovery of time for the populations to radiocarbon dating on Neandertal in Portugal of an early modern mix," Trinkaus said. fossils found in northern Croatia, human child with distinctive The new Croatian findings also indicating thousands of years of Neandertal characteristics, raise the question of who created coexistence between Neandertals published by Trinkaus and the ancient tools unearthed at the and early modern humans in European colleagues in PNAS in See Neandertal, page 2 central Europe. "The new dates demonstrate Celebration Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton wields the that extinction of the Neandertals scissors at ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the new Nemerov, by early modern humans, whether Rare Mozart, Beethoven Lien and Gregg residential houses Saturday, Oct. 23. Naomi by displacement or population Lebowitz, Ph.D., the Hortense and Tobias Lewin Distinguished absorption, was a slow and works acquired by library Professor in the Humanities in Arts & Sciences, and Merle Kllng, geographically mosaic process," Ph.D., former University provost and professor emeritus of Trinkaus said. "The differences BY CHRISTINE FARMER proud to be a central location for political science, share the stage. between Neandertals and early the pursuit of Mozart and modern humans in basic behavior A rare collection of first and Beethoven research in the coming and abilities must have been small early printed editions of music years," said Hugh Macdonald, and rather subtle." by Mozart and Beethoven has been Ph.D., the Avis Blewett Professor Fields named to new chair Using direct accelerator mass acquired by the University's of Music and chair of the Depart- spectrometry radiocarbon dating, Gaylord Music Library. An ment of Music in Arts & Sciences. BY LIAM OTTEN "We are team member Paul Pettitt and exhibition, which runs through Alan Tyson, an eminent British very grateful colleagues at Oxford University Jan. 7, and a recital at 7:30 p.m. musicologist known for his study Wayne Fields, Ph.D., for the determined that two pieces of Friday, Oct. 29, mark the acquisi- of watermarks and of the compo- professor of English and generous gift Neandertal skulls from the tion. sitional practices of the two director of the American that makes Vindija cave site in Croatia are "This is a tremendous acquisi- Viennese composers, assembled Culture Studies Program in Arts & this distin- between 28,000 and 29,000 years tion — the kind that has 1,001 the collection. The University Sciences, has been named the first guished old. The new dates refute previous uses," said Brad Short, music purchased it from him. holder of the Lynne Cooper professorship evidence indicating central librarian. "It will continue to be "This is the first time in more Harvey Distinguished Chair possible," European Neandertals had exceedingly important for schol- than two decades that the Gaylord in English, according to an Wrighton disappeared 34,000 years ago. arly research as well as practical Music Library has made a announcement by Chancellor said. Fields Frequent Neandertals are commonly uses." purchase of this magnitude," said Mark S. Wrighton and Edward S. "Professor media commentator portrayed as prehistoric human's The rare printed scores are Nathan Eakin, library associate for Macias, Ph.D., executive vice Fields is an outstanding academic of limited capabilities who were invaluable for those interested in reference and special collections. chancellor and dean of Arts & leader in our American Culture rapidly replaced and driven to music source studies, music Though all of the Mozart scores Sciences. A formal installation Studies Program, and we are extinction by superior early printing and the way music was in the collection were published ceremony will take place Dec. 2 in pleased he will be the inaugural modern humans, once the latter published and distributed. posthumously, many are neverthe- Holmes Lounge. See Fields, page 2 appeared in Europe. Scientists "Washington University is See Music, page 5 Course explores 'the history of everything1 BY TONY FITZPATRICK course. The idea is for students to phy and the sciences. contemplate the wide arch of "The course is doing two Sixty undergraduate students evolution from the "Big Bang" innovative things," Wysession at Washington University will and the subsequent expansion of' said. "One, we have three have the chance next spring to the universe to the origins and different scientists telling three study evolution from multiple progression of life on Earth. different views of the evolution perspectives when they embark Students will take mid-term of our world - on a universe on "The Epic of Evolution." and final exams and write a scale, a planet scale and in terms Team-taught by three paper. The tests will deal strictly of basic life on Earth. We are scientists in different disciplines, with the science; in the paper, telling the story weaving in all the 200-level course is cross- each student will bring together three aspects. This isn't done listed under biology, physics and an understanding of some aspect anywhere ejse to our knowledge. earth and planetary sciences. of evolution with some aspect of "The second innovation is Professors are Claude W. human endeavor — for example, fusing evolution with culture and Bernard, Ph.D., professor of in religion, art, history, philoso- society. It's rare for scientists to physics; Ursula W. Goodenough, phy or culture. There will be attempt to bridge that gap. Ph.D., professor of biology; and three lectures per week, and the Inherently, scientists refrain from Michael E. Wysession, Ph.D., students will meet in three speculation or implication associate professor of earth and different discussion groups once beyond their specialty." planetary sciences. a week, led by Heather Morrison, The course, however, is Bernard brings his expertise senior graduate student in predicated upon presenting the in physics, Goodenough her philosophy. science of evolution along with Michael E. Wysession, Ph.D. (left), Ursula W. Goodenough, Ph.D., insight into cell and molecular Students will be assigned a challenging students to interpret and Claude W. Bernard, Ph.D. (right) keep company with Charles biology and Wysession his wide range of cross-disciplinary the ways evolution has impacted Darwin at the St. Louis Zoo. The three professors are offering an knowledge of geophysics to the readings from literature, philoso- See Evolution, page 7 interdisciplinary course titled "The Epic of Evolution." 2 RECORD WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS Law professor argues Supreme Court case BY ANN NICHOLSON said. "In the absence of In his campaign-finance case harm, there is before the U.S. Supreme no warrant to Court, the most difficult restrict the aspect for Law Professor most D. Bruce La Pierre, J.D., has important of been not matching wits with First Amend- legal giants during oral ment rights argument but rather the — political waiting game that has ensued. speech and La pierre: N°w in Having argued in favor of an association." 'litigator's limbo' appeals court decision striking By all accounts, the Supreme down Missouri's contribution Court could easily come down limits to political candidates, either way. The case has drawn a La Pierre officially has entered lot of interest, in part because it litigator's limbo. "Nobody could have repercussions for knows when the Supreme similar limits in roughly a dozen Court decision will come other states as well as for federal down," said La Pierre, who limits.