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Who is Ida?

Ida is a 47 million year old, perfectly preserved primate recovered from the Messel Pit in Germany.

Ida is the most complete early primate fossil ever found, and scientists believe that she could be one of our earliest ancestors. She is a remarkable link between the first primates and modern humans and despite having lived 47 million years ago, her features show striking similarities to our own.

For 150 years, scientists have debated the course of our evolutionary journey from tree-dwelling primate to modern Homo sapiens.

When Darwin put forward the theory of evolution in his book “On The Origin of Species”, he suggested that there were transitional species linking humans with the rest of animal life.

Since Darwin’s time, palaeontologists have made important discoveries of fossils that have begun to uncover our prehistoric ancestry. Best known of these fossils is Lucy, a hominid who lived around 3.2 million years ago at the time when our ancestors started walking upright. But before Lucy there are massive gaps in the fossil record, and scientists have only had fragments of fossils to study.

Scientists have long hoped that the Earth might eventually yield an even more ancient fossil that links apes, man and all other primates to the earliest mammals on the planet. Now Ida is rewriting the history of our earliest origins. She is the most complete primate fossil ever found and has proto-anthropoid features, placing her at the base of the anthropoid branch which leads to monkeys, apes, and humans. Here at last, 150 years after the publication of “On The Origin of Species”, we have the link that connects us directly with the rest of the animal kingdom.

• http://www.revealingthelink.com/who-i…

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Duration : 0:9:6

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Official Press Release (PDF):
• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/resources/press_release.pdf
Scientific Publication:
• http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005723

——————————————–

Scientists Discover ‘Missing Link’ In Human Evolution (Sky News, May 19, 2009)

Scientists say they have found a primate fossil that shows our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestor. These pictures are from the programme “The Link” by Atlantic Productions.

——————————————–

47 MILLION-YEAR-OLD FOSSIL TOUTED AS ‘MISSING LINK’

Scientists believe they have found the “missing link,” an ancient primate fossil some 47 million years old which is thought to the common ancestor to all later monkeys, apes and humans.

The nearly perfect skeleton, classified as Darwinius masillae, was found in Germany. It’s a she, about the size of a small cat, with four legs and a long tail and lived for about 9 or 10 months.

The creature, which scientists nicknamed Ida after lead researcher Jorn Hurum’s 6-year-old daughter, is not a direct ancestor of monkeys and humans, but it provides a good indication of what such an ancestor may have looked like, researchers said.

• http://www.nypost.com/seven/05192009/news/worldnews/47_million_year_old_fossil_touted_as_mis_170030.htm

——————————————–

Is fossil Ida a missing link in evolution?

This 47m-year-old skeleton is one of the most significant primate fossil discoveries, hailed by some as ‘the missing link’ and by others, such as David Attenborough, as proof of evolution.

Fossil Ida – The missing link in Evolution:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/may/19/fossil-ida-missing-link
Sir David Attenborough David Attenborough on Ida:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/video/2009/may/19/ida-fossil-attenborough-missing-link
The world of Ida:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/may/19/ida-fossil-messel-missing-link

——————————————–

Primate Fossil Could Be Key Link in Evolution

Scientists say a 47-million-year-old fossil found in Germany may be a key link to explain the evolution of early primates, and, ultimately, modern human beings. The fossil, of a young female that probably resembled a modern-day lemur, is described as “the most complete primate fossil ever found.” It is small — with a body about the size of a raccoon — but it has characteristics found in later primates and in humans.

It has, among other things, opposable thumbs, similar to humans’ and unlike those found on other modern mammals. It has fingernails instead of claws. And by examining the structure of its hind legs (one of which is partly missing), scientists say they can see evidence of evolutionary changes that would eventually lead to primates standing upright.

• http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=7603618&page=1

——————————————–

Who is Ida?

Ida is a 47 million year old, perfectly preserved primate recovered from the Messel Pit in Germany.

Ida is the most complete early primate fossil ever found, and scientists believe that she could be one of our earliest ancestors. She is a remarkable link between the first primates and modern humans and despite having lived 47 million years ago, her features show striking similarities to our own.

For 150 years, scientists have debated the course of our evolutionary journey from tree-dwelling primate to modern Homo sapiens.

When Darwin put forward the theory of evolution in his book “On The Origin of Species”, he suggested that there were transitional species linking humans with the rest of animal life.

Since Darwin’s time, palaeontologists have made important discoveries of fossils that have begun to uncover our prehistoric ancestry. Best known of these fossils is Lucy, a hominid who lived around 3.2 million years ago at the time when our ancestors started walking upright. But before Lucy there are massive gaps in the fossil record, and scientists have only had fragments of fossils to study.

Scientists have long hoped that the Earth might eventually yield an even more ancient fossil that links apes, man and all other primates to the earliest mammals on the planet. Now Ida is rewriting the history of our earliest origins. She is the most complete primate fossil ever found and has proto-anthropoid features, placing her at the base of the anthropoid branch which leads to monkeys, apes, and humans.

• http://www.revealingthelink.com/who-is-ida/
.

Duration : 0:9:8

[youtube PWp1ppkUvdk]

Subscribe to Science & Reason:
• http://www.youtube.com/Best0fScience
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Official Press Release (PDF):
• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/resources/press_release.pdf
Scientific Publication:
• http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005723

—————————————- —-

Scientists Discover ‘Missing Link’ In Human Evolution (Sky News, May 19, 2009)

Scientists say they have found a primate fossil that shows our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestor. These pictures are from the programme “The Link” by Atlantic Productions.

—————————————- —-

47 MILLION-YEAR-OLD FOSSIL TOUTED AS ‘MISSING LINK’

Scientists believe they have found the “missing link,” an ancient primate fossil some 47 million years old which is thought to the common ancestor to all later monkeys, apes and humans.

The nearly perfect skeleton, classified as Darwinius masillae, was found in Germany. It’s a she, about the size of a small cat, with four legs and a long tail and lived for about 9 or 10 months.

The creature, which scientists nicknamed Ida after lead researcher Jorn Hurum’s 6-year-old daughter, is not a direct ancestor of monkeys and humans, but it provides a good indication of what such an ancestor may have looked like, researchers said.

• http://www.nypost.com/seven/05192009/…

—————————————- —-

Is fossil Ida a missing link in evolution?

This 47m-year-old skeleton is one of the most significant primate fossil discoveries, hailed by some as ‘the missing link’ and by others, such as David Attenborough, as proof of evolution.

Fossil Ida – The missing link in Evolution:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/200…
Sir David Attenborough David Attenborough on Ida:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/vid…
The world of Ida:
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/200…

—————————————- —-

Primate Fossil Could Be Key Link in Evolution

Scientists say a 47-million-year-old fossil found in Germany may be a key link to explain the evolution of early primates, and, ultimately, modern human beings. The fossil, of a young female that probably resembled a modern-day lemur, is described as “the most complete primate fossil ever found.” It is small — with a body about the size of a raccoon — but it has characteristics found in later primates and in humans.

It has, among other things, opposable thumbs, similar to humans’ and unlike those found on other modern mammals. It has fingernails instead of claws. And by examining the structure of its hind legs (one of which is partly missing), scientists say they can see evidence of evolutionary changes that would eventually lead to primates standing upright.

• http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/stor…

—————————————- —-

Who is Ida?

Ida is a 47 million year old, perfectly preserved primate recovered from the Messel Pit in Germany.

Ida is the most complete early primate fossil ever found, and scientists believe that she could be one of our earliest ancestors. She is a remarkable link between the first primates and modern humans and despite having lived 47 million years ago, her features show striking similarities to our own.

For 150 years, scientists have debated the course of our evolutionary journey from tree-dwelling primate to modern Homo sapiens.

When Darwin put forward the theory of evolution in his book “On The Origin of Species”, he suggested that there were transitional species linking humans with the rest of animal life.

Since Darwin’s time, palaeontologists have made important discoveries of fossils that have begun to uncover our prehistoric ancestry. Best known of these fossils is Lucy, a hominid who lived around 3.2 million years ago at the time when our ancestors started walking upright. But before Lucy there are massive gaps in the fossil record, and scientists have only had fragments of fossils to study.

Scientists have long hoped that the Earth might eventually yield an even more ancient fossil that links apes, man and all other primates to the earliest mammals on the planet. Now Ida is rewriting the history of our earliest origins. She is the most complete primate fossil ever found and has proto-anthropoid features, placing her at the base of the anthropoid branch which leads to monkeys, apes, and humans. Here at last, 150 years after the publication of “On The Origin of Species”, we have the link that connects us directly with the rest of the animal kingdom.

• http://www.revealingthelink.com/who-is-ida/
.

Duration : 0:9:6

[youtube pI-7PFN_4wE]

—
Subscribe to Science & Reason:
• http://www.youtube.com/Best0fScience
• http://www.youtube.com/SagansCosmos
• http://www.youtube.com/FFreeThinker
—

Official Press Release (PDF):
• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/resources/press_release.pdf
Scientific Publication:
• http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005723

——————————————–

Scientists Discover ‘Missing Link’ In Human Evolution (Source: Sky News, May 19, 2009)

Scientists say they have found a primate fossil that shows our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestor. These pictures are from the programme “The Link” by Atlantic Productions.

——————————————–

Scientists hail stunning fossil
By Christine McGourty
Science correspondent, BBC News

The beautifully preserved remains of a 47-million-year-old, lemur-like creature have been unveiled in the US. Christine McGourty takes a look at the beautifully preserved primate fossil.

The preservation is so good, it is possible to see the outline of its fur and even traces of its last meal.

The fossil, nicknamed Ida, is claimed to be a “missing link” between today’s higher primates – monkeys, apes and humans – and more distant relatives.

But some independent experts, awaiting an opportunity to see the new fossil, are sceptical of the claim.

And they have been critical of the hype surrounding the presentation of Ida.

The fossil was launched amid great fanfare at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, by the city’s mayor.

Although details of the fossil have only just been published in a scientific journal – PLoS One – there is already a TV documentary and book tie-in.

She belongs to the group from which higher primates and human beings developed but my impression is she is not on the direct line
Dr Jens Franzen

Ida was discovered in the 1980s in a fossil treasure-trove called Messel Pit, near Darmstadt in Germany. For much of the intervening period, it has been in a private collection.

The investigation of the fossil’s significance was led by Jorn Hurum of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway.

He said the fossil creature was “the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor” and described the discovery as “a dream come true”.

The female animal lived during an epoch in Earth history known as the Eocene, which was crucial for the development of early primates – and at first glance, Ida resembles a lemur.

But the creature lacks primitive features such as a so-called “toothcomb”, a specialised feature in which the lower incisor and canine teeth are elongated, crowded together and projecting forward. She also lacks a special claw used for grooming.

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8057465.stm

——————————————–

“Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor – The Missing Link In Evolution” narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

The Link is a feature-length documentary film made by the award-winning Atlantic Productions with exclusive access to Ida and the team of scientists who have examined her. The film shows how microtomography, CT scans and X-ray techniques were used to examine and recreate a 3D image of the creature, revealing that this early primate was a previously unknown species and one of our earliest ancestors. Filmed in High Definition in locations in Europe, America and Africa, this documentary special combines one of the most extraordinary finds ever made, the latest scientific techniques and state of the art graphics to take us on an epic evolutionary journey.

• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/the-film
.

Duration : 0:9:14

[youtube ygljRTbxdc4]

—
Subscribe to Science & Reason:
• http://www.youtube.com/Best0fScience
• http://www.youtube.com/SagansCosmos
• http://www.youtube.com/FFreeThinker
—

Official Press Release (PDF):
• http://www.revealingthelink.com/more-about-ida/resources/press_release.pdf
Scientific Publication:
• http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005723

——————————————–

Scientists Discover ‘Missing Link’ In Human Evolution (Source: Sky News, May 19, 2009)

Scientists say they have found a primate fossil that shows our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestor. These pictures are from the programme “The Link” by Atlantic Productions.

——————————————–

Scientists hail stunning fossil
By Christine McGourty
Science correspondent, BBC News

The beautifully preserved remains of a 47-million-year-old, lemur-like creature have been unveiled in the US. Christine McGourty takes a look at the beautifully preserved primate fossil.

The preservation is so good, it is possible to see the outline of its fur and even traces of its last meal.

The fossil, nicknamed Ida, is claimed to be a “missing link” between today’s higher primates – monkeys, apes and humans – and more distant relatives.

But some independent experts, awaiting an opportunity to see the new fossil, are sceptical of the claim.

And they have been critical of the hype surrounding the presentation of Ida.

The fossil was launched amid great fanfare at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, by the city’s mayor.

Although details of the fossil have only just been published in a scientific journal – PLoS One – there is already a TV documentary and book tie-in.

She belongs to the group from which higher primates and human beings developed but my impression is she is not on the direct line
Dr Jens Franzen

Ida was discovered in the 1980s in a fossil treasure-trove called Messel Pit, near Darmstadt in Germany. For much of the intervening period, it has been in a private collection.

The investigation of the fossil’s significance was led by Jorn Hurum of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway.

He said the fossil creature was “the closest thing we can get to a direct ancestor” and described the discovery as “a dream come true”.

The female animal lived during an epoch in Earth history known as the Eocene, which was crucial for the development of early primates – and at first glance, Ida resembles a lemur.

But the creature lacks primitive features such as a so-called “toothcomb”, a specialised feature in which the lower incisor and canine teeth are elongated, crowded together and projecting forward. She also lacks a special claw used for grooming.

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8057465.stm

——————————————–

The Grube Messel (Messel Pit) is a disused quarry near the village of Messel (Hesse), about 35 km southeast of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Bituminous shale was mined there. Because of its plethora of fossils, it has significant geological and scientific importance. The Messel Pit was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site on December 9, 1995.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messel_Pit
.

Duration : 0:5:3

[youtube rkBWRjQaZBI]