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THE EVOLUTION OF EARLY HOMO : A REPLY TO SCOTT
Author(s) -
Van Arsdale A. P.,
Wolpoff M. H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/evo.12344
Subject(s) - lineage (genetic) , biology , evolutionary biology , null hypothesis , fossil record , replicate , paleontology , genetics , gene , statistics , mathematics
Scott presents a welcome reply to our article, “A single lineage in early Pleistocene Homo ” (Van Arsdale and Wolpoff [Van Arsdale, A. P., 2012]). However, Scott's reply mischaracterizes and fails to directly address the hypothesis of a single lineage that we test. Additionally, the approach taken by Scott fails to replicate the methods used in our analysis. As Scott himself suggests, our null hypothesis of a single evolving lineage in early Homo remains without refutation. Although many evolutionary scenarios might explain the complex pattern of variation present in the early Homo fossil record, the most parsimonious remains that of a single lineage displaying evolutionary change over time.