On:   Wed, 29 Oct 1997 09:37:00 -0700
Loren Cordain <[log in to unmask]> said:

> Subject: Re: Hunter-Gatherer Exercise Patterns
.
.
> Mitochondrial DNA evidence suggests that the modern human genome is
> almost identical to that of paleolithic humans who lived 40,000 years
> ago.  Hence the exercise capacities and requirements of modern humans
> remain similar to those which had been originally selected by evolution
> for stone age humans living in a hunting and gathering environment.

How strong is the evidence suggesting that the paleolithic human genome is
nearly identical to that of modern man, and how large are the differences?
Small differences in the genome can make a big difference to the
phenotype (e.g sickle-cell anaemia) so if there are differences, even
small ones, surely they may contribute to quite radical differences in
diet?

Conversely, if there has been _no_ selection since 40 000 years ago,
what is the evidence that diet has played any part in anything except
individual health - i.e. that it has contributed anything to the
fitness of the species?



Dick Bird
School of Behavioural and Environmental Studies
University of Northumbria
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST