The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe > Podcast Episodes

Podcast #38 4/12/2006

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Wonko the Sane:

--- Quote from: "bort" ---
--- Quote from: "Jay" ---At what point would we consider someone not human, when they couldn’t breed with a real human?
--- End quote ---


I don't think there is any consensus on what is the true definition of a species.  The most common view is that it is this definition given by Ernst Mayr: "groups of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations which are reproductively isolated from other such groups"  This is a somewhat unsatisfying rule due to the fact that not all species reproduce sexually.  Also, it doesn't really take into account species that are connected over evolutionary time but never existed at the same time.  These groups could potentially interbreed, but could never actually accomplish it (without a delorean).
--- End quote ---


Good point, If you had sex with a homo-erectus (wow I was able to type that without even a giggle) you could probably produce an offspring. A really ugly offspring.

cyborganics:
So hot.

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