Did early humans hibernate?
An archaeological find of Neanderthal bones with interrupted growth suggests that they may have hibernated. This raises a couple of interesting points:
* As modern Homo sapiens have remnant genes from several relative branches, including Neanderthals, some people may have the genes that enabled ancestors to hibernate or otherwise reduce activity in winter.
* I would love to look for genetic similarities among people with Seasonal Affective Disorder, and possibly also seasonal overeating, to see if there are overlaps between them -- and what their percentage of Neanderthal genes is. Possibly we're not looking at disorders, but rather at vestigial features that are bothersome at low levels.
* If the hibernation genes remain in some portion of the population, then perhaps we could learn to control those genes, which would be great for SAD sufferers ... and for spaceflight. However, it could create awkward jealousies if only some people had the latent ability to hibernate on long spaceflights and others did not. That's a war and/or speciation waiting to happen. I don't think I've seen anyone write it, though.
* As modern Homo sapiens have remnant genes from several relative branches, including Neanderthals, some people may have the genes that enabled ancestors to hibernate or otherwise reduce activity in winter.
* I would love to look for genetic similarities among people with Seasonal Affective Disorder, and possibly also seasonal overeating, to see if there are overlaps between them -- and what their percentage of Neanderthal genes is. Possibly we're not looking at disorders, but rather at vestigial features that are bothersome at low levels.
* If the hibernation genes remain in some portion of the population, then perhaps we could learn to control those genes, which would be great for SAD sufferers ... and for spaceflight. However, it could create awkward jealousies if only some people had the latent ability to hibernate on long spaceflights and others did not. That's a war and/or speciation waiting to happen. I don't think I've seen anyone write it, though.