Nature Vol. 299 30 September 1982 395 NEWS ANI) VIE\X1S

Twelve wise men at the Vatican

from J.M. Lowenstein

A RECENT meeting* of twelve scholars at utan-like features (see PilbeamNature295, ancestral to both groups. Palae­ the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the 232; Andrews News and Views 295, 185; oanthropologists commonly date the split Vatican Gardens proved historic in two 1982) and the finding that limb bones much earlier, so that in their view, respects. First, the group, which consisted attributed to Ramapithecus or Aegyptopithecus is a hominoid ancestor of palaeontologists, geneticists and Sivapithecus (but not found in association only. Here, as in so much of molecular biologists and which had been with jaws and teeth) strongly suggest an evolution, accurate dating of divergences specifically assembled to reconcile the arboreal adaptation. Supporting evidence between lineages becomes critical. palaeontological evidence of primate comes from a new radioimmunoassay One characteristic proposed as evidence evolution with that from molecular technique. Preliminary results of a phylogenetic relationship between biology, was able to agree on a scenario for (Lowenstein) show the proteins of Ramapithecus and Australopithecus is the primate evolution over the past 30 million Ramapithecus/Sivapithecus to be most presence of thickly enamelled molars. In years. To many protagonists of the two like the serum proteins of orang-utan, Greenfield's opinion, this trait has very disciplines this will seem something of a gibbon and gorilla, less like those of man limited phylogenetic significance and does miracle. Second, the highest scientific body and chimpanzee and least like those of not support the inferred relationship. of the Catholic Church produced a strong and other - suggesting Rather, bipedalism and not small canines statement supporting the evolutionary the genera Ramapithecus/Siva­ or an enlarged brain appears to be the hypothesis as the explanation for the origin pithecus were hominoid (ancestral to emergent hominid trait - although what and diversity of living - just a or to apes and humans) rather than ecological conditions encouraged few weeks after the hundredth anniversary hominid. bipedalism is not at all clear. of Darwin's death. The first true hominids were agreed to be Molecular biology can be expected to Presiding over the working group was the australopithecines of East and South prove of increasing value in providing the President of the Pontifical Academy, Africa, dated from about 4 Myr BP. information about the relationships of Carlos Chagas, a neurophysiologist from Coppens, who with Johanson and White extant higher primates. Doolittle pointed Brazil and scientific adviser to Pope John named the Australopithecus out that the study of pseudogenes, which Paul II. The pope reportedly takes a keen afarensis, now considers that the observed change rapidly without any apparent interest in the activities of the Academy. large variation in size may not oe due to selection pressures to restrict base pair Palaeontologists and molecular as previously thought, substitutions, may provide particularly biologists have been divided over whether but may indicate that more than one useful data. the various living apes and man diverged species was present at that early time. In the Many other controversial areas of early on (20 Myr BP) or late (5-7 Myr BP ). period between 4 and 14 Myr, when the primate evolution were discussed. Tobias Some fossil evidence, particularly the common ancestor of man, chimpanzee and put forward the view that Homo habilis dating of Ramapithecus, considered by gorilla probably lived, there is no may have been capable of speech (albeit many palaeoanthropologists to be significant African fossil record of rudimentary) on the basis of an inferred hominid, supports the earlier date. A mass hominids or hominoids and no fossil well-developed vocal tract, of biochemical data showing about 99 per record at all for chimpanzee and gorillas. evidence of possible Broca's and cent identity between the DNA and from this period are badly needed to Wernicke's areas, and a stone tool tech­ proteins of chimpanzee, gorilla and man decide the path of . nology reflecting learned technical skills implies, from inferred rates of DNA and The earliest record of monkey-like and requiring speech for their transmission. protein change, that the separation -like primates, known from the Fayum Overall, though, the working group was occurred at the later date. formation of Egypt, was reviewed by able to agree on its conclusion: The working group was able to reconcile Simons, who also described a new , "We freely acknowledge that there is room the fossil and biochemical evidence by Qatrania. Aegyptopithecus, earlier for differences of opinion on such taking into account evidence that discovered in the Fayum by Simons, has problems as species formation and the Ramapithecus is not hominid but is more teeth resembling those of apes but limb mechanisms of evolutionary change. probably related (along with Sivapithecus) bones resembling those of New World Nonetheless, we are convinced that masses to the orang-utan lineage. Particularly howling monkeys. Aegyptopithecus, dated of evidence render the application of the important are the recent discovery of a at 25-35 Myr, may be ancestral either to concept of evolution to man and other Sivapithecus face which has many orang- Old World monkeys and hominoids or to primates beyond serious dispute". D •Participants at the conference, held 24-27 May 1982, were E. hominoids only, depending on the dating Bone (Belgium), Y. Coppens and J. Lejeune (France), R. of the monkey-hominoid split. Molecular Doolittle, L. Gre{'nfield, J. Low1.·nstein. D. Pilbeam and E. J. M. Lowenstein is Clinical Professor of Simons (USA), C. Pavan (Brazil), U. Sermonti (Italy) and P. data suggest the split occurred 20-25 Myr Medicine at the University of California, San Tobias (5. Africa). BP which would make Aegyptopithecus Francisco, California 94143.

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