UB researchers are proud to announce that they have discovered a previously unknown species. Those involved revealed their findings to President John B. Simpson, as well as the President of the United States, in a special ceremony on Sunday at the White House.
Through the combined efforts of the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Biological Sciences, the university has made an astounding impact on not only the scientific world, but also the history of the world.
The species discovered was an earlier form of modern day humans, and seems to be a "missing link" of sorts. This particular species seems to connect Homo sapiens with the species known as Homo hedielbergensis, which lived around 400,000 years ago.
Although remains of the species were found in Western New York, it is believed that if the species survived conditions in the area, they lived in many other areas as well.
Stephen Fraudman, biology professor and head genetic researcher on the project, explained how the team of researchers was able to trace the species's DNA to modern humans.
"Mitochondrial DNA is passed from the mother to child," Fraudman said. "By examining this form of DNA from the remains of a member of the species, we were able to see that there were minor changes between this group and modern humans."
The team was even able to find living people that are distant relatives of the skeleton.
The ancient group had a similar diet to modern Homo sapiens, and was able to live a relatively long life. Their long lives are especially shocking after observing how much members of the group drank and used tobacco.
The species, which will be named Homo B. Simpsonious in honor of the school's president, is believed to have lived as long as 50 years ago.
When contacted about being related to a past species, Daniel Fakely, a 46-year-old Buffalo resident, had very little to say.
"Why did they dig up my great-grandmother?" Fakely asked. "She died when I was a 6-year-old. There is nothing groundbreaking about that."
After further examination, the team found out that the Simpsonious' genetic makeup is no closer to the hedielbergensis than modern day humans'.
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