1958년 우간다와 케냐의 국경지대에 위치한 모로토 화산 지대에서 다량의 포유류 화석이 발견됐다. 그 중에는 일련의 고대 유인원 화석이 포함되어 있었는데, UMP 67.28이라는 숫자가 붙은 척추뼈 하나가 인류학자들의 눈을 사로잡았다. 바로 모로토피테쿠스 비쇼피(Morotopithecus bishopi)라 명명된 유인원의 척추뼈였다.
척추와 말초신경 분야의 세계적 권위자이자 당대에 저명한 진화론자들을 사사한 진화생물학자 에런 필러는 이 척추뼈의 발견이 인간 진화의 역사, 넓게는 생물 진화의 역사에서 발생한 중요한 형태적 혁신을 반영한다고 말한다. 진화의 역사에는 고전적인 진화론에서 말하는 집단 변이, 자연선택 그리고 종 분화라는 표준적인 과정으로 설명할 수 없는 현상들이 벌어진다.
공룡의 갑작스런 멸종이 그렇고, 척추동물의 탄생 과정이 그렇다. 저자는 다윈 진화론 이후 잊혀졌던 생물학자들의 생각에서 그 해답을 찾고자 한다. 한때는 허무맹랑한 생각으로 주류 과학계의 비웃음을 샀지만 유전학과 분자생물학의 발달로 새롭게 빛을 보고 있는 이 이론들은 진화를 설명하는 새로운 관점으로 주목받고 있다.
저자소개
척추와 말초신경 수술 분야의 세계적인 권위자이며 에른스트 마이어, 스티븐 J. 굴드, 데이비드 필빔, 그리고 어븐 드보어 등 이 시대 최고의 생물학자들에게서 진화론을 배운 진화생물학자이다. 하버드대학 재학 시절 동물과 인간 선조의 다양한 형태와 모양을 통해 진화의 역사를 재구성한 논문을 여러 학술지에 발표했다. 지은 책으로는 『정말로 허리 수술이 필요하신가요?Do You Really Need Back Surgery?』가 있으며, 진화생물학과 신경과학 분야에서 많은 논문을 발표했다. 미국 캘리포니아 대학 종합척추센터 부국장을 거쳐 현재 시더스시나이 병원 척추이상연구소 신경외과의사로 재직 중이며, 진화론의 초석을 닦은 곳으로 유명한 잉글랜드 왕립 의과대학(외과)에서 그 업적을 인정받아 미국인으로는 이례적으로 펠로우로 선출됐다.
This review is from: The Upright Ape: A New Origin of the Species (Hardcover)
To understand how and why we got here, one has to look at the history of how we evolved to the bipedal, upright, and thinking species that we are today. In his book, The Upright Ape: A New Origin of the Species, biologist and neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Filler proposes that a key element to unfolding the mysteries that have challenged evolutionary biologists for centuries lies within our bones, particularly the spine.
Dr. Filler explains that to fully understand evolution, we must study the early pioneers of evolutionary theory and the influence of their era's philosophical, religious, and cultural beliefs. Filler proposes that although Darwin's theory of evolution is a key element to understanding evolution, the concept of a slow process of descent with modification is not the final conclusion of our evolutionary story. By examining the works of a number of evolutionary pioneers such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Dr. Filler is able to build on their early findings and show through his own research that locomotion and the development of the spine is a key feature to understanding how humans evolved.
Drawing on such works of Mendel's Nature of Heredity as well as Pre-Darwinian and Post-Darwinian researchers, Filler proposes that evolution had the ability to accelerate, even in an instant. Using modern technology to study fossilized species, the bone structure of species such as the ape, fish, birds, as well as the human skeletal structure, Dr. Filler presents compelling evidence that the building blocks within the vertebrate embryo that initiate the formation of muscle, tissue and bone, are a common feature among the species. As well, he explains the bones and spinal segments that all vertebrates have in common. Although the various bones are located in different sections, the link among species indicates a common history with various evolutionary branches. That is, there is a common connection among species, but evolution is not a single straight path. It is more like a tree with various branches that contain common evolution building blocks. Filler proposes that the split between human and chimpanzee on the evolutionary ladder is the result of an upright ancestral ape with the apes we see today having evolved from a different evolutionary branch than humans. He explains in detail how the human spine evolved and how the modern ape is actually a descendant of humans.
The Upright Ape: A New Origin of the Species is a compelling and well-presented analysis of the story of life. With an in-depth examination of evolutionary pioneers and their influences on today's research, Dr. Aaron Filler presents a convincing theory of evolution that will educate, stimulate, and challenge our perceptions of the history of life. I highly recommend the book not only to science students, but to readers who enjoy engaging and well-researched books that inspire debate and reflection.
Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 starsThought-provoking and bold., October 28, 2007
This review is from: The Upright Ape: A New Origin of the Species (Hardcover)
Review by Kirkus Discoveries
A neurosurgeon and evolutionary scholar presents a bold new theory on the early origins of the hominiform (human-like) primates.
For some time, a critical part of humankind's self-image as a species has been our sense of superiority to the rest of the animal kingdom, including our close genetic cousins. After all, even though we share a common ancestor, humans learned to walk upright on two feet, while gorillas and chimps still largely get around on all-fours. But what if that common ancestor actually walked upright, and gorillas and chimps have since evolved into largely quadrupedal creatures? Here, the author presents compelling evidence that this may be the case. A noted neurosurgeon and spine expert, Filler has studied under some of the most famous names in the world of evolutionary science, such as Stephen Jay Gould and Ernst Mayr. After being confronted with a fossil that bore unmistakable, unique human features, features that shouldn't have been there until millions of years later, he realized that it would take more then the standard Darwinian theories of evolution to explain the anomaly. Building on the work of visionary thinkers such as Goethe, Étienne Geoffroy St. Hilaire, Gould and others, and drawing largely on his extensive knowledge of the spine, Filler builds a strong case to refute what he sees as some of the fundamentally incorrect assumptions that evolutionary scientists hold dear. He also provides an excellent general outline of some of the history and historic trends in evolutionary thought while laying out detailed evidence to support his theory. His writing often tends to be highly technical, which can leave the average reader lost. Still, his ideas come across clearly, and he puts forth a compelling argument.
1958년 우간다와 케냐의 국경지대에 위치한 모로토 화산 지대에서 다량의 포유류 화석이 발견됐다. 그 중에는 일련의 고대 유인원 화석이 포함되어 있었는데, UMP 67.28이라는 숫자가 붙은 척추뼈 하나가 인류학자들의 눈을 사로잡았다. 바로 모로토피테쿠스 비쇼피(Morotopithecus bishopi)라 명명된 유인원의 척추뼈였다.
척추와 말초신경 분야의 세계적 권위자이자 당대에 저명한 진화론자들을 사사한 진화생물학자 에런 필러는 이 척추뼈의 발견이 인간 진화의 역사, 넓게는 생물 진화의 역사에서 발생한 중요한 형태적 혁신을 반영한다고 말한다. 진화의 역사에는 고전적인 진화론에서 말하는 집단 변이, 자연선택 그리고 종 분화라는 표준적인 과정으로 설명할 수 없는 현상들이 벌어진다.
공룡의 갑작스런 멸종이 그렇고, 척추동물의 탄생 과정이 그렇다. 저자는 다윈 진화론 이후 잊혀졌던 생물학자들의 생각에서 그 해답을 찾고자 한다. 한때는 허무맹랑한 생각으로 주류 과학계의 비웃음을 샀지만 유전학과 분자생물학의 발달로 새롭게 빛을 보고 있는 이 이론들은 진화를 설명하는 새로운 관점으로 주목받고 있다.
저자소개
척추와 말초신경 수술 분야의 세계적인 권위자이며 에른스트 마이어, 스티븐 J. 굴드, 데이비드 필빔, 그리고 어븐 드보어 등 이 시대 최고의 생물학자들에게서 진화론을 배운 진화생물학자이다. 하버드대학 재학 시절 동물과 인간 선조의 다양한 형태와 모양을 통해 진화의 역사를 재구성한 논문을 여러 학술지에 발표했다. 지은 책으로는 『정말로 허리 수술이 필요하신가요?Do You Really Need Back Surgery?』가 있으며, 진화생물학과 신경과학 분야에서 많은 논문을 발표했다.
미국 캘리포니아 대학 종합척추센터 부국장을 거쳐 현재 시더스시나이 병원 척추이상연구소 신경외과의사로 재직 중이며, 진화론의 초석을 닦은 곳으로 유명한 잉글랜드 왕립 의과대학(외과)에서 그 업적을 인정받아 미국인으로는 이례적으로 펠로우로 선출됐다.
Customer Reviews
To understand how and why we got here, one has to look at the history of how we evolved to the bipedal, upright, and thinking species that we are today. In his book, The Upright Ape: A New Origin of the Species, biologist and neurosurgeon Dr. Aaron Filler proposes that a key element to unfolding the mysteries that have challenged evolutionary biologists for centuries lies within our bones, particularly the spine.
Dr. Filler explains that to fully understand evolution, we must study the early pioneers of evolutionary theory and the influence of their era's philosophical, religious, and cultural beliefs. Filler proposes that although Darwin's theory of evolution is a key element to understanding evolution, the concept of a slow process of descent with modification is not the final conclusion of our evolutionary story. By examining the works of a number of evolutionary pioneers such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Dr. Filler is able to build on their early findings and show through his own research that locomotion and the development of the spine is a key feature to understanding how humans evolved.
Drawing on such works of Mendel's Nature of Heredity as well as Pre-Darwinian and Post-Darwinian researchers, Filler proposes that evolution had the ability to accelerate, even in an instant. Using modern technology to study fossilized species, the bone structure of species such as the ape, fish, birds, as well as the human skeletal structure, Dr. Filler presents compelling evidence that the building blocks within the vertebrate embryo that initiate the formation of muscle, tissue and bone, are a common feature among the species. As well, he explains the bones and spinal segments that all vertebrates have in common. Although the various bones are located in different sections, the link among species indicates a common history with various evolutionary branches. That is, there is a common connection among species, but evolution is not a single straight path. It is more like a tree with various branches that contain common evolution building blocks. Filler proposes that the split between human and chimpanzee on the evolutionary ladder is the result of an upright ancestral ape with the apes we see today having evolved from a different evolutionary branch than humans. He explains in detail how the human spine evolved and how the modern ape is actually a descendant of humans.
The Upright Ape: A New Origin of the Species is a compelling and well-presented analysis of the story of life. With an in-depth examination of evolutionary pioneers and their influences on today's research, Dr. Aaron Filler presents a convincing theory of evolution that will educate, stimulate, and challenge our perceptions of the history of life. I highly recommend the book not only to science students, but to readers who enjoy engaging and well-researched books that inspire debate and reflection.
Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services
A neurosurgeon and evolutionary scholar presents a bold new theory on the early origins of the hominiform (human-like) primates.
For some time, a critical part of humankind's self-image as a species has been our sense of superiority to the rest of the animal kingdom, including our close genetic cousins. After all, even though we share a common ancestor, humans learned to walk upright on two feet, while gorillas and chimps still largely get around on all-fours. But what if that common ancestor actually walked upright, and gorillas and chimps have since evolved into largely quadrupedal creatures? Here, the author presents compelling evidence that this may be the case. A noted neurosurgeon and spine expert, Filler has studied under some of the most famous names in the world of evolutionary science, such as Stephen Jay Gould and Ernst Mayr. After being confronted with a fossil that bore unmistakable, unique human features, features that shouldn't have been there until millions of years later, he realized that it would take more then the standard Darwinian theories of evolution to explain the anomaly. Building on the work of visionary thinkers such as Goethe, Étienne Geoffroy St. Hilaire, Gould and others, and drawing largely on his extensive knowledge of the spine, Filler builds a strong case to refute what he sees as some of the fundamentally incorrect assumptions that evolutionary scientists hold dear. He also provides an excellent general outline of some of the history and historic trends in evolutionary thought while laying out detailed evidence to support his theory. His writing often tends to be highly technical, which can leave the average reader lost. Still, his ideas come across clearly, and he puts forth a compelling argument.
Thought-provoking and bold.
[...]