New discoveries surrounding 1.5 million-year-old human ancestor
Researchers studying ‘Turkana Boy’, a well preserved 1.5 million-year-old child or adolescent from the Homo erectus species, have discovered that he may not have had a congenital bone disorder such as dwarfism or scoliosis, as previously believed.
Until now, Turkano boy was not considered as representative of his species as it was always thought that the strange formation of his spine was pathological. However, the new analysis published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology, has revealed that Turkano boy did not have any genetic bone problems, only a herniated disc in his back.
The implication is that Turkano boy can be studied in a new light – conclusions about the Homo erectus’ anatomy can now be made based on his skeleton.
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