Του Γιώργου Λεκάκη
Σύμφωνα με μια νέα έκθεση, μια διεθνής ομάδα ερευνητών, προτείνει ότι οι Νεάντερταλ (και άλλοι πρώιμοι «ανθρωπίδες» / hominins) μπορεί να είχαν την ικανότητα νάρκης.
Ωστόσο, διαφωνούντες με την θεωρία επισημαίνουν ότι μπορεί να υπάρχουν άλλες εξηγήσεις για τις αλλοιώσεις των οστών και ότι τα μεγάλα θηλαστικά - συμπεριλαμβανομένων των αρκούδων - δεν μπορούν να μειώσουν την θερμοκρασία τους αρκετά, ώστε να φτάσουν σε κατάσταση πραγματικής τεχνικής αδρανοποίησης / τεχνητή νάρκη. Αντ' αυτού, μπαίνουν σε μια κατάσταση ”torpor” / νάρκης / «χαμηλών στροφών», η οποία χαρακτηρίζεται από λιγότερο «βαθύ ύπνο». Σε μια τέτοια κατάσταση, οι μεγάλοι εγκέφαλοι, όπως των Νεάντερταλ, θα συνέχιζαν να απαιτούν μεγάλη ενέργεια για να επιβιώσουν.
ΠΗΓΗ: Antonis Bartsiokas – Luis Arsuaga «Hibernation in hominins from Atapuerca, Spain half a million years ago Hibernationdes hominidés d’Atapuerca, en Espagne, il y a un demi-million d’années», στο L'Anthropologie, Volume 124, Issue 5, December 2020, 102797. ΑΡΧΕΙΟΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ, 6.12.2020.
ΕΠΙΣΗΣ: «Early humans mayhave survived the harsh winters by hibernating - Seasonal damage in bonefossils in Spain suggests Neanderthals and their predecessors followed the samestrategy as cave bears», στην The Guardian, 20.12.2020.
Abstract
Both animal hibernation and human renal osteodystrophy are characterized by high levels of serum parathyroid hormone. To test the hypothesis of hibernation in an extinct human species, we examined the hominin skeletal collection from Sima de los Huesos, Cave Mayor, Atapuerca, Spain, for evidence of hyperparathyroidism after a thorough review of the literature. We studied the morphology of the fossilized bones by using macrophotography, microscopy, histology and CT scanning. We found trabecular tunneling and osteitis fibrosa, subperiosteal resorption, ‘rotten fence post’ signs, brown tumours, subperiosteal new bone, chondrocalcinosis, rachitic osteoplaques and empty gaps between them, craniotabes, and beading of ribs mostly in the adolescent population of these hominins. Since many of the above lesions are pathognomonic, these extinct hominins suffered annually from renal rickets, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and renal osteodystrophy associated with Chronic Kidney Disease - Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD). We suggest these diseases were caused by poorly tolerated hibernation in dark cavernous hibernacula. This is particularly evidenced by the rachitic osteoplaques and the gaps between them in some of the adolescent individuals along with the evidence of healing mainly in the adults. The sublayers in the rachitic osteoplaques indicate bouts of arousal from hibernation. The strong projection of the external lip of the femoral trochlea, the rachitic osteoplaques with the empty gaps between them, the “rotten fence post" sign, and the evidence of annual healing also point to the presence of annually intermittent puberty in this extinct human species. The hypothesis of hibernation is consistent with the genetic evidence and the fact that the SH hominins lived during an extreme glaciation. Alternative hypotheses are examined. The present work will provide a new insight into the physiological mechanism of early human metabolism which could help in determining the life histories and physiologies of extinct human species.
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