Did a copying mistake give rise to human intelligence?

[FarCenter]

A copying error appears to be responsible for critical features of the human brain that distinguish humans from the closest primate kin, new research finds.

When tested out in mice, researchers found this "error" caused the rodents' brain cells to move into place faster and enabled more connections between brain cells.

When any cell divides, it first copies its entire genome. During this process, it can make errors. The cell usually fixes errors in the DNA. But when they aren't fixed, they become permanent changes called mutations, which are sometimes hurtful and sometimes helpful, though usually innocuous.


http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0507/Did-a-copying-mistake-give-rise-to-human-intelligence

[BootinUp]

1. you mean it wasn't intelligent design?

[bananas]

2. Now we can create Pinky and the Brain! nt

[Canuckistanian]

3. Um, isn't that how evolution is supposed to work?

Life is FULL of creatures that ultimately survived because of unlikely traits that helped them survive in a constantly changing environment.

The fossil record is FULL of these "copying mistakes" that didn't survive. But every once in a while, one such mistake ends up being an evolutionary game-changer.

The human lineage is no different.

[aquart]

4. That's called evolution.

Good mistakes win. Bad mistakes lose.

[Lucky Luciano]

6. Then exposing George bush's existence. nt

[unblock]

5. well it's about time! lemme know when the mutation reaches congress.

[RainDog]

7. k&r n/t

[Kaleva]

8. Touring the Everglades would be very exciting if the predators there were intelligent.

[bhikkhu]

9. Interesting; but copying mistakes gave rise to every feature of every variety of life

when it comes down to it.

[Javaman]

10. I envision a farside like cartoon with two cavemen and an copy machine...nt