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David Attenborough's aquatic ape series for Radio 4 based on 'wishful thinking' David Attenborough's aquatic ape series for Radio 4 based on 'wishful thinking'
(about 4 hours later)
Sir David Attenborough’s Radio 4 series on the theory that human ancestors descended from the trees via an aquatic evolutionary phase has been dismissed as based on wishful thinking about an implausible theory by the anatomist and broadcaster Prof Alice Roberts.Sir David Attenborough’s Radio 4 series on the theory that human ancestors descended from the trees via an aquatic evolutionary phase has been dismissed as based on wishful thinking about an implausible theory by the anatomist and broadcaster Prof Alice Roberts.
In an article for the Conversation, Roberts slams Attenborough’s decision to create a two-part radio series on the theory, known as the aquatic ape hypothesis, which she said lacks credible evidence to support it. In an article for the Conversation, Roberts slammed Attenborough’s decision to create a two-part radio series on the theory, known as the aquatic ape hypothesis, which she said lacks credible evidence to support it.
“Occasionally in science there are theories that refuse to die despite the overwhelming evidence against them. The “aquatic ape hypothesis” is one of these, now championed by Sir David Attenborough in his recent BBC Radio 4 series The Waterside Ape,” she writes. “Occasionally in science there are theories that refuse to die despite the overwhelming evidence against them. The ‘aquatic ape hypothesis’ is one of these, now championed by Sir David Attenborough in his recent BBC Radio 4 series The Waterside Ape,” she wrote in an article co-authored by Mark Maslin of University College, London.
According to the hypothesis, many human adaptations, such as our ability to walk upright, our ability to control our breathing and even the presence of fat layers under our skin, arose from selection pressures of a time in which our ancestors lived in watery habitats.According to the hypothesis, many human adaptations, such as our ability to walk upright, our ability to control our breathing and even the presence of fat layers under our skin, arose from selection pressures of a time in which our ancestors lived in watery habitats.
First proposed in 1960 by marine biologist Sir Alister Hardy, the idea was later popularised, expanded upon and championed by the Welsh screenwriter, Elaine Morgan. First proposed in 1960 by marine biologist Sir Alister Hardy, the idea was later popularised, expanded upon and championed by the Welsh screenwriter Elaine Morgan.
But the theory has long provoked controversy, with its many opponents citing a range of evidence to refute it, from the discovery of fossils of a growing number of early human species to limitations in our swimming abilities.But the theory has long provoked controversy, with its many opponents citing a range of evidence to refute it, from the discovery of fossils of a growing number of early human species to limitations in our swimming abilities.
“It seems such a tantalising and romantic idea – but a closer look at the evidence reveals it to be little more than that,” writes Roberts. “It seems such a tantalising and romantic idea – but a closer look at the evidence reveals it to be little more than that,” wrote Roberts and Maslin.
“We know that species as far apart in time as Sahelanthropus tchadensis 7m years ago and Homo erectus 2m years ago all lived in forested or open woodland environments,” she adds. “While some of these woods included wetland, this was just part of the mosaic of habitats that our ancestors learned to survive in, and there is absolutely no trace of a hominin ancestor as aquatic as that described by Hardy and Morgan.” “We know that species as far apart in time as Sahelanthropus tchadensis 7m years ago and Homo erectus 2m years ago all lived in forested or open woodland environments,” they added. “While some of these woods included wetland, this was just part of the mosaic of habitats that our ancestors learned to survive in, and there is absolutely no trace of a hominin ancestor as aquatic as that described by Hardy and Morgan.”
Aired earlier this week, the series comes 12 years after Attenborough’s first BBC Radio 4 programme on the topic.Aired earlier this week, the series comes 12 years after Attenborough’s first BBC Radio 4 programme on the topic.
Speaking of his own experiences observing chimps wading in the water on two legs, he says on the second of the two programmes: “It has always seemed a good explanation to me for how our human ancestors might have adopted an upright stance.” Attenborough declined to comment directly on Roberts’ criticisms. Speaking of his own experiences observing chimps wading in the water on two legs, he sa on the second of the two programmes: “It has always seemed a good explanation to me for how our human ancestors might have adopted an upright stance.” Attenborough declined to comment directly on Roberts’ criticisms.
But Roberts is unimpressed by Attenborough’s apparent enthusiasm for the aquatic ape hypothesis. But Roberts and Maslin were unimpressed by Attenborough’s apparent enthusiasm for the aquatic ape hypothesis.
“It is a great shame the BBC recently indulged this implausible theory as it distracts from the emerging story of human evolution that is both more complex and more interesting. Because at the end of the day science is about evidence, not wishful thinking,” she writes. “It is a great shame the BBC recently indulged this implausible theory as it distracts from the emerging story of human evolution that is both more complex and more interesting. Because at the end of the day science is about evidence, not wishful thinking,” they wrote.
It is the second tussle involving Attenborough in the space of a fortnight. Earlier this week the veteran broadcaster came under fire from more than 400 scientists, two of whom were Nobel laureates, who contested the call of Attenborough and others for an end to the use of non-human primates in certain experiments into treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia.It is the second tussle involving Attenborough in the space of a fortnight. Earlier this week the veteran broadcaster came under fire from more than 400 scientists, two of whom were Nobel laureates, who contested the call of Attenborough and others for an end to the use of non-human primates in certain experiments into treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia.