Luck and small twists of fate could have resulted in a very different distribution of power and "civilization" and all the other things we hold dear. L3 leaving Africa compared to L2 or L1 might have been one of those twists of fate. Instead of indicating some proof of better fitness (or whatever), it may simply be a variation on the Anthropic Principle - to wit: We're here, and we're powerful, and we're related to L3, therefore L3 is an essential part of the process...
But maybe L3 was somehow associated with the development of language or something. It seems unlikely that it was directly related though - mitochondrial DNA is involved in energy conversion, not encoding things like language centers in the brain.
I'm obviously no expert on this stuff. But, like you, I am most uncomfortable thinking that there's some genetic basis in the distribution of power in the world...
I'm reminded of a US News story I saw in the late '80s that was about changes in body sizes in Olympic sprinters. Future sprinters were going to look like Ben Johnson because, well, that's what champion sprinters looked like then.
Of course, the fact that he got to be so muscle-bound through taking steroids didn't come out until a little later...
I'm rambling. I'll quit now.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Scott.
But maybe L3 was somehow associated with the development of language or something. It seems unlikely that it was directly related though - mitochondrial DNA is involved in energy conversion, not encoding things like language centers in the brain.
I'm obviously no expert on this stuff. But, like you, I am most uncomfortable thinking that there's some genetic basis in the distribution of power in the world...
I'm reminded of a US News story I saw in the late '80s that was about changes in body sizes in Olympic sprinters. Future sprinters were going to look like Ben Johnson because, well, that's what champion sprinters looked like then.
Of course, the fact that he got to be so muscle-bound through taking steroids didn't come out until a little later...
I'm rambling. I'll quit now.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Scott.