Aspies For Freedom

I saw a documentary the other night on television.  It was well-argued, logical and concise, and impressed me very much.  Basically, the premise is below:

"Homo Futurus is a documentary about a new theory of the story of humankind - our origins and our future.

What made early humans stand up and take their first steps? What is the next step in human development? These are some of the questions raised by this documentary.

Two researchers, paleontologist Anne Dambricourt-Malasse and orthodontist Marie-Josephe Deshayes, have uncovered a curious fact about the sphenoid, a small bone at the base of the skull. Over millions of years, each change in the sphenoid's position brought a new species into our primate family.

Dental records seem to point to a new change developing now, caused by alterations in the size and shape of our jaws. Does this mean that progression could be programmed into our cells? A number of scientists certainly think so.

Homos Futurus considers whether we could we be evolving into yet another species. Rather than modern Homo sapiens being the realization of the species, are we really just a stage on the way to the end result?  What will our descendants look like? (From France, in English, French, Afrikaans and Mandarin, English subtitles)"

What fascinated me (amongst so many other interesting ideas raised in the program) was the idea that, according to previous changes charted in the sphenoid, we are due for another change around about now.    

Using past changes in the bones, "Homo Futurus's" face was computer imaged.  S/he will have a slightly larger skull case than current modern humans.  The eyes will be slightly larger, (more light-sensitive, perhaps?) The brain will have a greater blood flow to it, allowing for more oxygenation, allowing for a higher IQ to develop.   I'm sure this will sound familiar to a lot of us.  

I would very much like to get in touch with the paleantologist who is researching this theory and ask if she has considered looking at the sphenoid bone of autistics, specifically Aspie autistics.  

I remember the horrible feeling I experienced last year when it was revealed that scientists were mapping our genetic structure and a lot of us were worried that we would be aborted out of existence.  But if this program is correct, then that will not be an option.  The neurotypicals are talking about an "autism epidemic" but what if that is just another progression in the human species?  Then no amount of abortion could keep pace with the projected change.  

Alison

Sphenoid bone: A prominent, irregular, wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull. The sphenoid bone has been called the "keystone" of the cranial floor since it is in contact with all of the other cranial bones.

The Greek physician Galen wrote that the sphenoid bone was "like a wedge thrust between the skull and the superior maxilla."

And in the program I watched, each species of primate up to human has a more curved sphenoid, allowing for greater blood flow to the bigger brain as the skull is no longer "hanging" forwards, but sitting in a more upright stance.
Alison

In case anyone was wondering.

I've heard that autistics tend to have occipital buns, but I haven't heard anything about the sphenoid bone.

Forgot to add: occipital buns are an enlargement at the back of the skull, and could be there to make extra room for the part of the brain used in spatial thought.

Hey, I have an aspie friend with an occipital "bun" and I had never come across one of those before. The occipital bone is supposed to be more prominent in males anyway, but his has a definite bump.

I'd really recommend watching the full show if you can possibly find it; it discusses this point in detail.  The scientist involved is saying that the Neanderthals evolved into modern humans, rather than were replaced by them, and that it appeared to be abrupt.  Her research is showing that the sphenoid bone of primates on to humans changes at a set rate, so many degrees per thousand years, and the gap is measurable and constant, in direct contradiction of what evolution tells us of random mutations and gradual development.  
I found the ideas presented fascinating, even though the scientist was just giving the facts as she saw them and could offer no plausible explanation at the time as to why it was the sphenoid bone was changing in this way.
Alison

Umm, I wouldn't get too excited about a new species just yet. This change in the sphenoid bone is probably just a normal variation within Homo Sapiens.

Wow - how cool is that?  Thanks for the link, Zoran.  Now I don't have to try to find the program or transcript through SBS.
Alison

Really interesting. Thanks or sharing.  Mom of Hrick

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritabilit..._gene_loci

Two possible genes that cause autism are HOXA1 and HOXB1. HOX genes are mentioned towards the middle of the second half. HOXA1 has been found to increase skull diameter. Though there are 38 HOX genes and the documentary doesn't say which ones they were studying, I think it's worth digging into the research.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query...s=14681917

I guess that kind of puts a hole in the idea though (two other found the same thing, I think I posted a bit too quickly).

I'd be interested to know if there are any measurable differences between the sphenoid of neurotypicals and that of Aspies/Auties, given that generally we tend to have a larger skull diameter.  I'm seriously considering contacting the professor with a view to suggesting she include some of us "identified" Autistics in her studies.
Alison

I don't know; I think before you do more evidents needs to be found. Otherwise we might seem like elitists who just want to prove a point.

Hard to say. It's not something that interests me much personally but obviously it is worth looking into.