Digging Anthropology
My sister and I where talking about how we would both like to study anthropology; weird. Unless she is just like me, and would like to learn about everything in the universe, which I am guessing is the case. So on my next trip to the library, I start digging through the anthropology section (pun was meticulously crafted and fully intended.) I checked out two books, “Lucy, The Beginnings of Humankind” by Donald Johanson and Maitland Edey, and “The Double Helix” by James D. Watson.
The Double Helix, while not exactly on topic, was close by and caught my eye. It’s funny how life is sometimes a series of connected dots. While in Massachusetts, for some reason I asked my Aunt Virginia, “Who discovered the meaning of DNA?” Without blinking she said “Watson and Creek”, “OK…..” says I. Anyway, the book is best read by someone with a solid understanding of molecular biochemistry, but the parts I could understand where fascinating. The amount of knowledge human beings have uncovered in the last century is absolutely staggering. I thought I knew a few things, but I had no idea!!
I haven’t finished the book on Lucy yet, but there are a couple of common threads in both books detailing what scientist go through on their road to discovery. Lucy, by the way is (at the time this book was written in 1981) the oldest hominid fossil ever found. Hominids are early humans. She is estimated to be approximately 3.6 million years old. Wow! Just reading about how they can determine the age of fossils gave me a new appreciation of human intelligence. One common struggle I learned is the mental flexibility required by people of science. What you take for granted today, can be proved wrong tomorrow, and then you need to re-think everything. That is not easy. Another struggle that scientists have to travail is getting money to fund their efforts. Almost all of them are eking out an existence, getting a grant here and a fellowship there to barely fund expeditions or laboratory experiments. They live, not for the accumulation of wealth or material possessions, but for the passion of learning and the thrill of discovery. I have been inspired !!
The Double Helix, while not exactly on topic, was close by and caught my eye. It’s funny how life is sometimes a series of connected dots. While in Massachusetts, for some reason I asked my Aunt Virginia, “Who discovered the meaning of DNA?” Without blinking she said “Watson and Creek”, “OK…..” says I. Anyway, the book is best read by someone with a solid understanding of molecular biochemistry, but the parts I could understand where fascinating. The amount of knowledge human beings have uncovered in the last century is absolutely staggering. I thought I knew a few things, but I had no idea!!
I haven’t finished the book on Lucy yet, but there are a couple of common threads in both books detailing what scientist go through on their road to discovery. Lucy, by the way is (at the time this book was written in 1981) the oldest hominid fossil ever found. Hominids are early humans. She is estimated to be approximately 3.6 million years old. Wow! Just reading about how they can determine the age of fossils gave me a new appreciation of human intelligence. One common struggle I learned is the mental flexibility required by people of science. What you take for granted today, can be proved wrong tomorrow, and then you need to re-think everything. That is not easy. Another struggle that scientists have to travail is getting money to fund their efforts. Almost all of them are eking out an existence, getting a grant here and a fellowship there to barely fund expeditions or laboratory experiments. They live, not for the accumulation of wealth or material possessions, but for the passion of learning and the thrill of discovery. I have been inspired !!
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12:27 PM
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