• AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world
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    10 days ago

    According to the paper, they tested ten different split-and-merge scenarios and this one was the most likely. But they give some important caveats, including:

    • They assume that the smaller group had a more-or-less constant population size—if it fluctuated significantly, some of their other predictions on the dating of the split and merge might be off.

    • They can’t rule out more complicated scenarios, like three or more splits and merges (but they can rule out the simpler scenario of no splits).

    They do say that they tested their model on a number of other species (including chimps, bats, and dolphins), and got results consistent with those species’ known evolutionary histories.

    • BurnedDonutHole@ani.social
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      10 days ago

      So, basically they are working estimations, guesswork and their assumptions. I want to see the evidence that says yes this is what it’s without any biased(all that estimations, guesswork and assumptions) information in it. This is my gripe with these DNA research. We share 98% or more of our DNA with a lot of other living beings yet these guys are like look here we found ATCG here and it must be human because we got this from human remains. While the human book is 3 billion letters long. What they found is open to all kind of interpretation and discussion but somehow nobody discuss these issues in this field.