European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                R science amp the world scientists debate origin of human race did to nil descend from eve an african woman Whoso offspring quite literally conquered the world some biologists and anthropologists believe that All humanity traces its roots to just one woman. 1 his idea known As the eve hypothesis or the Garden of Eden theory goes like this eve lived in sub saharan Africa 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. As the ancestors of modern humans tier children and grandchildren spread throughout Africa and eventually across the world triggering the extinction of other primitive Peoples. Other scientists ridicule the idea. The theory based on a comparison of the genes of people around the world is one of the most hotly contested controversies in the often rancorous Field of human origins. At a meeting earlier this year of the american association Lor the advancement of science in new Orleans both sides argued their eases with acts speculation and sarcasm. Most everyone agrees that Small brained human like creatures arose in Africa 1.5 million to 2 million years ago. They spread throughout Africa Europe and Southeast Asia and flourished for hundreds of thousands of years. But what became of them the theory favored by Many Fossil experts is that these Early hominids parted company in Africa but went on to evolve in unison. Useful genetic changes that arose in Small pockets of population slowly spread throughout the world As neighbouring tribes mingled. Auer thousands of centuries they became us a modern humans who differ Only in superficial racial features. Garden of Eden theorists believe those Early settlers disappeared leaving no Trace in humanity s genes. Instead they say they have evidence that a new kind of people arose in Africa much More recently. Their Kin also spread throughout the prehistoric world somehow killing off or squeezing out the european neanderthals and other descendants of the first wave out of Africa. The debate began about three years ago with the use of new scientific techniques such As molecular biology to look for signs of the family tree in std the genes of modern humans. Molecular biology is used to decipher the genetic information inside mitochondria. These arc structures within human cells that help produce Energy. Mitochondria have their own genes separate from the chromosomes that carry All the other blueprints for human beings. Ordinary genes arc a mishmash contributed equally by mothers and fathers. Mitochondrial genes Are passed along Only by mothers. Therefore each new generation gets an almost exact copy of the mitochondria genes of its forebears. The Only difference is the occasional variation caused by genetic mutations. These mutations arc the key to Reading mitochondrial genes As a clock. Biologists believe they know How quickly the mutations occur. By comparing the degree of mutation in the genes of people from different parts of the world they believe they can Trace the various lines Back to the Point at which they All converge eve. The latest study of this sort conducted by Linda vigilant at the University of California at Berkeley uses hair roots plucked from 1 99 people from Europe Asia new Guinea and seven ethnic groups in Africa. Analysing the Root genes she calculates All the people descended from a common ancestor who lived in Africa 207,000 years ago. This females descendants evolved into physically modern humans by 100,000 years ago. Rival anthropologists attack the idea on several grounds. One is whether the mutations in mitochondrial genes occur like clockwork. The critics argue that the biologists Are Overly confident that they know the Tempo at which the mitochondrial clock is ticking. Another is the Fossil record the Teeth and bits of Bone that remain from the ancient beings. Eve theorists believe the new wave of humans migrating out of Africa 1,000 centuries ago did not male and mingle their genes with the ancient hominids already in Europe and Asia instead they replaced them completely. Fossil experts believe they have found Clear signs that trails a such As the shape of cheekbones Wisdom Teeth and skulls a found in fossils As old As i million years have been passed Down to modern humans. Therefore they say the eve time Frame is off base and the theory itself untenable. Associated fress at a glance Czechoslovakia size 49,365 Square Miles about the size of new York population 15,661,000 1989 estimate main languages czech slovak both official currency Koruna 16 = $ i Quot tourist rate Quot also available travel restrictions passport no visa required Lor stays of less than 30 Days. Overview Czechoslovakia has three distinct areas the Fertile plateaus of Bohemia in the West Hilly Moravia in the Center and mostly mountainous Slovakia. The czechs  each maintain their own language and culture but have been United in one country since 1918. Prague the capital was once the former capital of the holy roman Empire and contains several Well preserved baroque buildings and the oldest University in Central Europe. Its a fact Czechoslovakia has More than 2,500 ancient castles monasteries and chateaus but is also one of the most industrialized countries in Europe. Many families have such luxuries As televisions refrigerators and cars. Any questions How Long do dogs and cats a the animal medical Center in new York recently asked animal Medicine experts at what age they consider pets to be geriatric. Animal size tends to affect length of life. For the giant Breed dogs such As the great Dane St. Bernard and Irish wolfhound the figure is eight years or so. For Large dogs like the German Shepherd Irish setter and Labrador retriever the figure is about 10 years. Medium sized dogs such As the Beagle scottish terrier and Cocker Spaniel might live 12 years. The smallest dogs such As the toy poodle Yorkshire terrier and Chihuahua live about 13 or 14 years. The same 13 to 14 years holds True for cats. There is Little difference from Breed to Breed among cats although the siamese has Long been rumoured to live a Little longer than average. I what distinguishes toes from fingers do Only primates have fingers a scientists use the term digits rather than fingers according to Scott c. Silver a zoologist with the education department of the new York zoological society. That term covers both fingers and toes. Quot the Basic primitive Mamma trend is toward  a or having five digits a limb he said. Quot even the horses Hoof and the Deere a Hoof Are modified from five digits. You  say the Deer has fingers but it does have  what distinguishes the digits of primates is that they have nails instead of claws tactile pads on the ends for collecting information on the environment and the ability to grasp. The digits of some other animals have some of these characteristics but not All of them Silver said. Page 10 sunday May 27, 1990