Speaking of genes and epigenes

Speaking of genes and epigenes…

Another ‘earlier than thought’ for fire and cooking. Via MindMatters, a pre-Sapiens species with 1/3 of modern brain size was frying up antelopes:

Such behavior has not been attributed to H. naledi before, largely because of its small brain. But it’s now clear that a brain roughly one-third the size of human brains today still enabled H. naledi to achieve control of fire, Berger contends…

Meanwhile, expedition codirector and Wits paleoanthropologist Keneiloe Molopyane led excavations of a nearby cave chamber. There, the researchers uncovered two small fireplaces containing charred bits of wood, and burned bones of antelopes and other animals. Remains of a fireplace and nearby burned animal bones were then discovered in a more remote cave chamber where H. naledi fossils have been found, Berger said.

The evil influence of meritocracy has slowed down the progress of knowledge. I’ve been repeatedly pointing to the LONG-KNOWN FACT that reading and writing are hard-wired parts of the brain. Paleontologists are still surprised to find earlier and earlier evidence of writing, because they “know” writing had to be Innovatively Disrupted By High IQ Superhumans With Extremely Large Galaxy Brains.

Fire is undoubtedly also hard-wired, though the relevant brain region hasn’t yet been located. And we’re not alone in understanding fire. Elephants organize bucket brigades (or suck-it brigades) to put out fires.