Neanderthals and Climate Change - a good read

[taxi]

4. A theory as to why we are so different from Neanderthals

A researcher suggested that there were several intermediate forms of humans between the Neanderthals and modern man. He explains that conflicts exist more strongly in closely related groups than those at the extremes. In short, and in my own words, it went something like this.

The range of difference in ten similar groups goes from strictly vegetarian to absolute carnivore, with a 10% change from group to group. Saying 50/50 would indicate the group in the center eating equally of both. The 100/0 group has no conflict with the 0/100 and no competition for food either. Should there be a grain shortage however, the 90/10 becomes the greatest threat to survival and ultimately only one of the those two groups survive.

In all the author says that there were species between modern man and neanderthal, with modern man and neanderthal at the extremes. The middle fell out.